Scene

RachelAnn Degnan have had the fun privilege of learnSenior Reporter ing from them.”

With the stay-at-home orders due to has lived in his house, he said he has the pandemic, some students worried that learned multiple profound life lessons. every morning they would have to wake “For example, one of [my roomup and do online schooling in a living mates] spent their entire quarantine space that they had to share with people with their best friend, and now they they did not respect or like. However, they absolutely can’t stand each other,” Pewere pleasantly surprised by how much tersen said. “It’s really eye-opening to they have how too bonded with much time their housing can ruin companions. relation -

Joshua Pe- ships.” tersen, a senior majoring in computer sciIt is really cool to hear his work, and since I’ve Brook Monteith, an educaence and mathematics, only knew one of moved in I have learned a bit about making music, tion junior, has had a very differhis five roommates when he moved into his But that’s not all I have had the fun privilege of ent experience. Monteith signed new home. “It was learning from them. her lease in Februweird trying ary and, at to get to know - Joshua Petersen, a senior ma- the time, them during joring in computer science and had no idea quarantine, mathematics she would but I feel lucky be isolated because they with her are all chill and roommates. pretty much “I knew keep to them- both of selves,” Petersen said. my roommates, so I didn’t feel over-

One of Petersen’s roommates is whelmed when I found out I was going an artist and spends most of his time to be trapped with them,” Monteith said. creating new music. “I just had to assume and trust that they

“It is really cool to hear his work, were safe and that we would take all the and since I’ve moved in I have precautions we needed to.” learned a bit about making music,” Monteith preferred being isolated in her ElPetersen said. “But that’s not all I lensburg apartment over her childhood home.

“I love my family, but the two things Brown said he was pleasantly surI am most excited about to have here in prised by how friendly and accepting his Ellensburg over my home is the internet roommates are, and he has continued to and having my own space,” Monteith pursue a friendship with them. said. “I hang “Recentout a lot with ly, we went [my room- up to Snomates], but qualmie Pass we also re- and hit the spect personal space, and I love my family, but the mountain together,” it prevents us two things I am most Brown said. from overwhelming excited about to have “We haven’t had any each other.” Monte here in Ellensburg over problems with workith said she my home is the ing online was also extremely internet and having my either because we grateful for her roomown space. just communicate with mate’s cat, - Brook Monteith, each other who provid- junior in education and let othed comfort ers know when she we are in a felt alone. meeting. It

“The cat makes the is so nice to whole evhave around erything oneven if she does steal our blankets,” line part of college a bit more bearable.” Monteith said. “There is just a presence Brown is excited to continue always in the apartment, and some- making memories with his roomtimes that is really comforting when I mates, and he suggests that othfeel alone.” er people put in the effort to

Ben Brown, an aviation junior, lives get to know the people living in a dorm with his three roommates. in your home.

“At first, since we were in the “Reach out to them, if you can, bedorms, we had to mask up and keep fore you move in. Find some common to our [individual] rooms for about interests and try to find things you a week,” Brown said. “Now, when can do together,” Brown said. “Doing we have everything done, we hop this will make it easier to communion to one of our roommate’s TVs cate and stay civil throughout your and play Xbox games together.” time together.”

Local businesses invest in CBD products

David Snyder Staff Reporter

Cannabis Central Store Manager Margaux Ulstad wouldn’t call cannabidiol (CBD) a “super chemical,” but because of its many believed medical benefits, the business has found a diverse market for its CBD products.

“[Customers are from] all across the board; from the 21-year-old who has test anxiety to grandma who has arthritis,” Ulstad said. “I’ve literally seen every age, every gender, [come in] for just CBD.”

Ulstad said people with chronic ailments, like cancer, commonly use it. Or, like Ulstad herself, some just use it to help with common ailments like pain, stress and anxiety.

“My best description for a good CBD feeling is kind of like sinking into a hot bath at the end of a long day,” Ulstad said.

Part of the cannabinoid’s allure is its non-psychoactive properties.

According to Ulstad, many customers gravitate to CBD because they want the perceived benefits of cannabis but don’t want to get high.

She said she believes there is still a strong stigma toward marijuana and the psychoactive compound in cannabis called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Because of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived CBD products that contain 0.3 percent or less THC are federally legal. Many are looking to capitalize on the new market, including cosmetic companies, culinary companies, and now, apparently, mattress companies.

Posted outside Cramer’s Home Furnishings on Main Street is a sign which

In the few months that Petersen reads, “Try our CBD infused mattress.” Store manager Greg Maes said he doesn’t know much about the product, despite having it displayed on the sales floor for two months.

“We brought it in on a recommendation from the manufacturer,” Maes said. “CBD is all the rage these days – I think that’s why we have it.”

According to its manufacturer, Therapedic, the B-Calm Solace mattress incorporates CBD through a topical coding and “microencapsulating technology.”

Therapedic’s website states that “research and anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep,” although it doesn’t mention how the CBD in the mattress enters and affects a user’s body.

So far, Cramer’s hasn’t sold a single Solace mattress, and Maes said customers have reacted indifferently to the bed.

Ulstad is skeptical of the mattress, mostly because the product uses hempbased CBD and doesn’t incorporate THC. She believes CBD products need a good ratio of THC in order to achieve their desired effects. By contrast, Marijuana-based CBD products, which are legal in Washington state, contain some THC.

“They act as a catalyst to each other; they work better together than they do apart,” Ulstad said. “There are receptors in the brain – and in your body, in your system – for THC. [There aren’t] any for CBD. So, the THC helps the CBD bond to those receptors as well.”

According to Ulstad, at legally licensed cannabis dispensaries like Cannabis Central, most CBD products sold contain varying amounts of THC.

Photograph by Casey Rothgeb

Several retailers now carry hemp-based CBD products as interest in them grows.

Some of her best-sellers are a de- “The fact that we have some in odorant-stick-like topical called “Dragon stock right now is crazy. It flies [off the balm,” fruit jellies (candy), oil tinctures, shelves],” Tucker said. “Pretty much anyoil capsules and mints. She said the most thing you could put marijuana in, compapopular products are those with a heavy nies are doing it now.” CBD ratio (much more CBD than THC). Tucker believes the stigma toward

Another dispensary in town with cannabis is slowly fading. In his time a wide selection of CBD products is with the store, he’s seen customers (genThe Fire House on South Canyon erally from older demographics) go from Road. Sales associate Travis Tuck- shopping for CBD products solely to er said the store has sold everything experimenting with other stuff around from bath bombs to medically infused the store. sriracha sauce. “When you mix [CBD and THC], it’s

Does your dog need something to just better… the stigma is going down, for mellow out? The Fire House sells tinc- sure,” Tucker said. “We have something tures of CBD oil for them too. for everyone.”

January 20, 2021 SCENE 5 An extended winter break

Libby Williams Staff Reporter

After two quarters of mostly online learning, many students have opted to take some time off from school. Some feel that an online curriculum doesn’t compare to that of an in-person class, and the lack of structure accompanied by an increase in mental strain may not be worth the price of tuition.

Thomas Marchant, a junior studying musical education with an emphasis on chorale, said he’s struggled with the online structure since it started last spring, noting that he’s not as strong a student when dealing with an at-home approach.

“I really felt like, with my major specifically, it benefits so much with an in-person learning experience,” Marchant said. “I just really wouldn’t get the same thing out of an online version.”

Marchant said he is hoping to return to campus next quarter, as long as things begin to get back to normal. In the meantime, he’s found some food service jobs to save money, and is enjoying working on his own personal music projects.

“Looking back on the past two quarters, I wish I would have just differed the whole year,” Marchant said.

Michael Christensen, a senior studying musical theater, said he feels a similar frustration towards online learning when it comes to performance. Jackson Sorensen Staff Reporter

The pandemic has altered the way that we interact with each other and businesses have struggled to keep their doors open. As 2021 begins, so has a new set of COVID-19 restrictions. A lot of businesses are still feeling the effects from the very beginning of the lockdown.

A few coffee shops in Ellensburg are working and collaborating with each other in an effort to support businesses that might be on the verge of closing for good. Jolt Java, located at 617 Vantage Hwy., is one of the coffee stands that is actively working with locally owned businesses to keep doors open.

Greg Harvill, the owner of Jolt Java, is an avid supporter of the Ellensburg community. Harvill prides himself on the customer service that he and his staff maintain on a daily basis.

“The formula is super simple, awesome drinks with awesome service at an awesome price,” Harvill said. “Having staff that care and realize that people could get coffee anywhere else, yet they come here because of how they are treated.”

Jolt Java has been collaborating with The Verge Apartments and the Kittitas Valley Hospital to provide easy access to energy to power through the day. Their most recent collaboration is with The Pearl Bar and Grill. This collaboration introduced the inclusion of Keto-friendly food options. Harvill said he is excited about the collaboration and what comes from it.

“Doing theater … it’s a major that requires you to be there with somebody,” Christensen said.

Christensen, who is back home in Montana, spoke with some of his friends who attend other universities, and the exasperation is unanimous.

“It seems like every university that my friends are attending, it’s the same struggle,” Christensen said. “They’re not learning anything comparative to being in person.”

Christensen said he is hoping to work during his break to save money for future quarters. He said he’s in no rush to finish his degree and is thankful he can save

“[The collaboration] offers something a little different than you would typically find at coffee stands,” Harvill said. “While we still offer muffins and breads, typical food items that you would find at a coffee stand, we now offer something healthier for people that are on a Keto diet, or just want to offer healthier options.”

Mark Holloway is co-owner of D&M Coffee, which has been a local business in Ellensburg since 1990 with five locations scattered throughout Ellensburg. Holloway said he is passionate about his business and the community.

“The business has been to countless events hosted by local businesses and the campus as well,” Holloway said. “I think people really like D&M because we’re a some money and relax, but ultimately is hoping for a sense of normalcy so he can return to his friends.

“I want to be there, and it sucks that I’m not,” Christensen said.

Peyton Brown, a junior studying history and social studies education, is taking winter quarter off as well, and says she’s been looking forward to a break for some time.

“I really love being in the classroom and being on campus, so I kind of lost my passion and love for learning from my house and doing it all by myself,” Brown said.

She said she felt a sense of relief watching her roommates log in for the first day local business that’s been around and are always there to support the community that we live in.”

Ellensburg’s coffee community had a new member in June 2019 when Dutch Bros opened up on the I-90 off-ramp. The owner of the stand, Darren Nelson, said that he and his employees have partnered with organizations and participated in community empowerment events.

“When that fallen officer passed away, the Dutch team donated product and help to that officer’s family,” Nelson said.

Nelson said some community events that they have done included donating and working with Fish Food Bank and Bucks for Kids. Buck for Kids is an event that has been held on Sept. 1 for the past

Graphic by Ilse Orta Mederos

of the quarter, knowing she could take some time for herself.

Brown said it wasn’t just the pandemic and online learning that prompted this time off. She said she had been feeling burned out for a while, and everything came to a head during fall quarter.

She said that she’s feeling confident about returning spring quarter, refreshed and ready to start again. She urged any student feeling exhausted to consider their options.

“I think if at any point you’re feeling burned out, you should take a break, because that’s a lot of money,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t want to spend that much

Coffee shops fuel community through pandemic

Jolt Java serves customers on Vantage Highway just east of Ellensburg.

money to be unhappy or unwell.” Photograph by Casey Rothgeb/The Observer 10 years. For every drink ordered on this day, $1 is donated to a children-oriented organization, hand-picked by the Dutch Bros team.

“We are meant to give back because we are uniquely well-suited,” Nelson said. “Since we are open, we felt the need to give back to those that have always supported us.”

Nelson said the stand has implemented a no cash transaction policy to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. He said all transactions made are contactless and the drinks are served to the customer on a plastic tray that is sanitized after each transaction.

“We really take our customer’s safety seriously,” Nelson said. “We want to keep everyone safe.”