June 2015

Diana Villafana

Big Bend Community College

ROYAL REUNION 50 YEARS OF CLASS

Royal City Summer Festival

BASIN SUMMER SOUNDS Ephrata Music Festival

WOMEN’S DAY

Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce

2 | thevenuemag.com

dine!

shop!

play!

D O W N TO W N M O S E S L A K E

Support our mission to make a difference!

P.O. Box 1201 Moses Lake, WA 98837 509-764-1745 director@mlbacares.org www.mlbacares.org Like MLBAcares.org & LakeTown Landing on

October 31st: Downtown Trick or Treat November 13th: Holiday Tree Lighting November 20th: Photos with Santa at the MAC December 4th: 21st Annual Ag Appreciation Parade and Street Party; Photos with Santa December 5th & 12th: Photos with Santa at the MAC

Coming Summer 2015: Movies in Sinkiuse Square! *Dates subject to change, see our online calendar at www.mlbacares.org & signup for our enewsletter!

The Moses Lake Business Association (MLBA) is a non-profit organization formed in 1993. The purpose is to stimulate economic development downtown by promoting the area as an exciting place to live, shop, work and play through organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring. Anyone can be a member and show their support through membership and through the Main St. Tax Incentive Program.

Stay up-to-date on downtown events, sign up for our enews or text alerts at www.mlbacares.org!

4323635Š

BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

May 2nd: City Wide Cleanup May 21st-24th: Moses Lake Spring Festival June 27th: 20th: Basin Brews & Tunes August 4th: National Night Out August 14th: Cowboy Breakfast October 10th: Art & Wine Walk

thevenuemag.com | 3

This magazine would look lovely on your phone. thevenuemag.com

4 | thevenuemag.com

thevenuemag.com | 5

Moments and stuff

W

hen I tell people I live in a very small space about the size of their dining room table, no conversation ensues. Instead, I encounter blank stares.

I have come to completely understand it is not exactly a popular style of life for most, however, it suits me well.

I could perhaps label myself a minimalist. It wasn’t always that way. I’ve lived in great houses for most of my life, surrounded with lovely things. I cared about fashion and owned more clothes than I could ever in one life time wear and shopped methodically for the things I deemed necessary in order to be acceptably normal. (What is normal, anyway? Do you know? Neither do I.) But in the last few years I noticed a trend in my thinking. In order to create more time to do the things important to me and have the ability to pursue my passions, I needed to rid myself of excess stuff. In fact, I recognized

an increased stress level due to the extensive time involved in the care-taking of material things. Stress is not a choice I choose, so I became more and more deliberate about what I kept and what I sold and gave away.

Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with owning material possessions. And, we’re fortunate to have such availability of amazing new things to help make our day convenient and comfortable. But, the way I see it, the problem is the meaning assigned to our stuff. We tend to give too much meaning to our things, often forsaking our health, our relationships, our passions, our personal growth, and our desire to contribute beyond ourselves.

Truth is, happiness cannot be stored, garaged, housed, bottled or packaged. It is never the stuff that makes us happy. I think true happiness comes from moments spent together with people, doing important things like....watching family grow, singing silly songs, doing handstands in a field, sharing a sunset, going for a walk, telling stories, laughing with friends, smelling a campfire, dangling feet in cool water, growing a sunflower....

What stuff is more valuable than moments etched in the heart to be enjoyed and treasured, forever?

- Melea Johnson

VENUE MAGAZINE Published by: Venue Media Group, Inc Publisher: Melea Johnson Layout & Design: Joe LaRosee Sales: Melea Johnson, Sue Tebow Photographer-in-Chief: Robin L. Green Graphics: Joe LaRosee Contributing Writers: Doug Sly, Jan Thacker, Dorothy Heikell, Melea Johnson

Venue Magazine, PO Box 820, Moses Lake, WA 98837 509 431-3573 Melea Johnson / 509 760-0503 Sue Tebow info@thevenuemag.com / thevenuemag.com /

On the cover - Diana Villafana Photo - Tiffany Carvo, Fru-ition

6 | thevenuemag.com

thevenuemag.com | 7

F GC L To celebrate

Blue Moon Gala

“Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee” Where: Westmont Park Rose Gardens, Soap Lake,WA When: Friday, July 31st 6:00 pm Why: To support the fine work this group is doing for our Grant County communities What: Generous appetizers, cocktails, wine, a beautiful sit down

dinner in the Rose Garden, raffles, one of a kind auction items including guided tours of the Coulee Corridor by land or by air, music and a glorious full moon to party under.

Cost: $150 per person

Tickets: (509) 855-6441

(Sold Out! - please call to be put on cancellation list)

thevenuemag.com | 9

painting by Angela Greene

10 | thevenuemag.com

Vasquez Photography

thevenuemag.com | 11

SPRING INTO SUMMER at the SOROPTIMIST

Dinner Party SATURDAY JUNE 27TH, 2015 5:30–10:30PM PILLAR ROCK GRILL 1373 RD F.2 NE MOSES LAKE, WA

$60/GUEST | $480/TABLE OF 8 $1000/EVENT SPONSOR For more information www.moseslakesoroptimist.org or find us on Facebook

EAT | DRINK | DANCE | GIVE

SPONSORS:

Music by Foolish Fortune

DONORS:

Art by Cecilia Rosslee

12 | thevenuemag.com

The name “Soroptimist” was coined by combining the Latin words soror “sister” and optimus “best”, and can be taken to mean “best for women.”

thevenuemag.com | 13

Local Moses Lake chapter ladies photo by Tiffany Carvo - Fru-ition

Party on the Green

14 | thevenuemag.com

-Soroptimist style!

C

alling all foodies for fundraising . . . . Soroptimist International Moses Lake (SIML) will be hosting the second annual Spring into Summer – Soroptimist Dinner Party on Saturday, June 27th. And, this year – we’ll be on the green at the Moses Lake Golf Club with sounds by Foolish Fortune and food by Chef Sameh Farag of Pillar Rock.

The Soroptimist Dinner Party fosters a unique experience for guests to learn about the needs, opportunities, and achievements of women and children in Grant County.

The Dinner Party offers a creative approach in raising funds to empower and support the advancement of women and children in our community. All funds raised at the Soroptimist Dinner Party are invested back into local programs, including: Care4Kids, Food4Kids, Domestic Violence, Scholarships and Awards, and in the new program year, SIML is launching: Dream it, Be it – Career Support for Girls.

The Soroptimist Dinner Party is unique in the sense that while you are sipping, savoring, and swaying your night away, you are able to RSVP to Dinner Parties hosted by our generous community throughout the remainder of the year. You can simply RSVP for one, two, or the whole Dinner Party – the donation is determined by the number of seats you select for the Dinner Party. Last year the Dinner Parties sold out. And, this year the list of parties is just as compelling, including a Merlot and Van Gogh paint & sip party, tamale making with Grandma Katherine, wine tasting and BBQ at Camas Cove, Seahawk Sunday at St. Brigid’s, Couples Bunco – for those men ever wondering why their wives meet once a month or every week for cards, Holiday Event at CB Tech with our talented students, Corks & Canvas at Errant Winery in Quincy, a Mexican Fiesta at Hidden Meadows, and several more parties in the final planning stages.

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

The local Moses Lake chapter was chartered in 1955 and currently has 42 members. SIML consist of professional, business, and retired women as well as career moms who all have the common goal of making a difference in the lives of women and children. SIML gave over $20,000 to our local community last year through donations, grants and scholarships. SIML is supported through their fundraising efforts and donations from the community. The Soroptimist Dinner Party is the largest fundraiser for SIML to secure funding for their local programs.

The Soroptimist Dinner Party will support the following projects for our community: Care 4 Kids Created by SIML in 2008, Care4Kids aims to promote improved self-image and school performance by ensuring that children at the youngest grade levels are given tools needed to help them be successful. Children in grades K-5 are eligible to receive a grant, which includes new clothing, tennis shoes, hygiene kit, and a haircut voucher – coats and snow boots are available for children, too. In an effort to remain discrete, all orders are delivered to the school counselor in a backpack for the child.

Food 4 Kids Provide funding and support to Midway Elementary for a food program for students.

Midway Elementary has nearly 89 percent of their students on Free & Reduced lunches.

To assist children in need of meals during the weekends and school breaks, Midway Elementary provides food to children in need to replace the school meals they receive while at school. Expanding support to Larson Elementary in 2015 - 2016 school year for Winter and Spring break lunch service.

New Hope Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services to raise awareness regarding domestic violence and human trafficking. In 2014- 2015, we donated $2000, a new DVD/VCR player, gift cards and two van fulls of household, clothing, and personal items to New Hope and provide sexual assault kits to samaritan hospital.

Scholarships & Awards The Live Your Dream Award (formerly the Women’s Opportunity Award) is a cash award given to a local woman who provides the primary source of financial support for her family, and is enrolled in school to improve her education and make a better life for her family. We have given over $10,000 locally in the past 5 years. Our local winner participates on the region level, and region level winners are eligible on the national level for 1 of 3 $10,000 awards.

More than $1.6 million in education grants are awarded nationally and internationally to more than 1,200 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles like poverty, domestic violence, and/or drug and alcohol abuse.

Violet Richardson Award recognizes young women age 14-17 who volunteer to make their community and the

world a better place. Our local recipients have volunteered for Youth Outdoors Unlimited, Serve Moses Lake, and one winner started her own foundation, “The Pearly Whites” that has given over $35,000 to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

College scholarships for graduating high school seniors are awarded every year. Over $15,000 in scholarships have been awarded in the past 5 years.

Introducing in the new program year Dream it, Be it: Career Support for Girls is a new program that will be launched locally next year. The program targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success and aims to help girls grow up to be strong, successful, happy adults. It provides girls with access to professional role models, career education, and the resources to live their dreams.

SIML is always seeking women interested in volunteering and providing service in our community. If you are interested in more information about attending The Soroptimist Dinner Party, donating to SIML, or to become a Member, please go to www.moseslakesoroptimist.org or find them on Facebook.

Vasquez Photography

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

Big Bend Community College is planning a 50th anniversary celebration of the relationship between the Japanese Agriculture Exchange Council and BBCC . The July 15 event is for former trainees and former and current U.S. host farmers.

U

.S. farmers and ranchers started hosting agriculture trainees from Japan in 1965. Thousands of friendships were formed between the host farmers and trainees. Trainees stayed in the U.S. for periods ranging from 18 months to two years. For many of them it was their first overseas experience.

More than 7,000 JATP trainees have completed the program. They were all introduced to American culture at BBCC before going to host farms according to specialties in areas like row crops, vegetables, fruit, beef, dairy, etc.

Eighteen former trainees from Group C (third group, 1968)) returned to Moses Lake in 2012 for a reunion. Now in their 70’s, many are still farmers. Some have become leaders in Japanese politics and business.

“Our time in the U.S. became the core of our life and helped us grow into who we are today,” said Tsuneyuki Honma, senior manager of Hokkaido Wine Company, one of the largest in Japan.

BBCC was a young college—in just its third year—when the first group of more than 100 Japanese agriculture trainees arrived on campus in 1965. The program has been a part of the culture and history of BBCC and Moses Lake ever since.

“It is an extremely rare relationship,” said Group C member Takeru Tochihara. “There is not another school in the U.S. that has come this far with generations of students from Japan. My group has grandchildren older than some of today’s trainees.”

Returned trainees will learn BBCC has changed a lot, and they won’t be familiar with many of the new facilities. But one memory all the trainees will share is of the residence halls every group used during the introduction to American culture and English at BBCC. All JATP trainees experienced a home visit in the Moses Lake area—usually their first experience in an American home. It is one of their favorite memories.

In 2013 the BBCC Soccer Club (white shirts) attended the welcome ceremony for JATP trainees to see if the trainees could put together a team for a soccer match. The trainees won in a romp at Lions Field in Moses Lake.

BBCC Trustee Mike Villarreal welcomed 2015 trainees, and within a month he had invited all of them to his house for a BBQ. He said the trainees ate more than 700 hotdogs in two visits to his Othello home.

Hirao Ishii, left, reunited with his former English teacher Marilyn Bertram 47 years after his experience with the Japanese Agriculture Training Program in Moses Lake.

Big Bend Community College Foundation board member Paul Hirai, right, accepts a gift of more than $2,500 from Takeru Tochihara on behalf of the Group C trainees who returned to BBCC to help celebrate the college’s 50th Anniversary.

The JATP program did not have female trainees in its first three decades, but they represent approximately 15 percent of trainees today. Former BBCC Trustee, Mike Blakely is with three lady trainees at the 2013 welcome ceremony.

Language is a barrier during the annual welcome ceremony, so a map of Japan is always placed on a well so trainees can show you the location of their hometown.

“I remember hearing the sound of sprinklers at night—a sound never heard in Japan. When I came back, it smelled like blue sky, green grass, wide open fields, and like the heart of my American hometown.”

- Takeru Tochihara

18 | thevenuemag.com

h S A b R e SuMM fOR CYsTIc FiBRoSIs

aT mOSeS pOInTE STeAKhOUsE

thevenuemag.com | 19

C

ystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. An estimated 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide) have CF. In people with CF, a defective gene causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down food and absorb vital nutrients.

20 | thevenuemag.com

“

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis and funds more CF research than any other organization. Nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support from events like Summer Bash. Thank you for your attendance and support!

- cff.org

”

Liz and Bill Porter

A message from Liz Porter

M

y youngest niece was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis shortly after birth and before that time I really did not know much about the disease. Lila is a beautiful and energetic little girl with amazing spunk. I know she, and my sister and brother in law are going to fight for her life and I want to do as much as I can to help her with that fight and be a part of finding a cure for this terminal genetic disease.

As an extended family, we got involved with the Great Strides fundraiser walk which we attended in the Tri-Cities and that is what got me thinking about attempting a CF event here in Grant County. My husband, Bill, has worked at Moses Pointe for many years and I thought it could be a great venue for an outdoor event. I love planning so with the help of Amie Lerch of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation office in the Tri-Cities I applied to be a Third Party Fundraiser.

I learned a lot in the process of trying to pull off an event of this type last year and was so encouraged by the generous support of the communities of Moses Lake, Quincy and Ephrata as local businesses got involved and made donations.

Eric, John, and Ray of the Dimestore Prophets were also a huge help and Jones of Washington, Cacchiotti Orthodontics, and Simplot Grower Solutions came on board as event sponsors to help make Summer Bash for Cystic Fibrosis 2014 possible. Besides raising over $23,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation the event really helped to raise awareness about this disease. We invite you to attend our 2nd annual SUMMER BASH event.

thevenuemag.com | 21

T

he mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to highquality, specialized care. It is a nonprofit donor-supported organization and receives no government funding.

The Foundation’s drug development success has been recognized by Harvard Business School and by publications such as Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. In addition, the Foundation funds and accredits a national care center

network that has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a model of care for a chronic disease. All patients with CF are seen regularly at these clinics. Most visit quarterly, but more when sick. The closest care center to Moses Lake is in Spokane.

Funds raised at Summer Bash will support the CFF’s mission and help advance CF care. The event was wildly successful its first year, raising over $23,000.

For more information on how you can join the fight against Cystic Fibrosis please go to cff.org

Event 2014

22 | thevenuemag.com

“Education transforms lives, and it is something no one can take away.”

Diana Villafana

Transforming lives at Big Bend Community College

By Doug Sly

J

ust prior to the Transforming Lives recognition on February 25, the inspirational speaker for the event had to cancel due to illness. On short notice, the event planners asked Diana Villafana to be the speaker. Diana had just been promoted to BBCC’s Student Success Center Coordinator, and had a transforming lives story of her own that few people knew. She received a standing ovation after this speech: “Transforming Lives.” Such powerful words.

Education has transformed my life in so many ways, and it has transformed the lives of my family members.

I come from a Mexican family. I crossed the Ciudad Juarez/El Paso border on my father’s shoulders through underground tunnels when I was two years old. We were under there from morning to night, where my father says it was pitch dark and at times the water was up to his neck.

Although I don’t remember that experience, at times I think about the struggle and the thoughts that might have been going through my parents’ minds.

They wanted a better life for their kids, and even though they might not have known that education was the key at that time, I think I knew it since the age of five, when I started the process of educating myself. I started translating for my family at doctors’ appointments, at the store, post office, and even at my own and my siblings school conferences.

My mom use to say “eres un perrica” which means “you are a parrot” you talk so much. Sometimes she said it was embarrassing because I would always ask “y porque?” …

“But why?” to everything and everyone. I started school and grew up in a small town – Royal City.

For many years I was placed in a special needs classroom because I was learning English. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t mind it at all. I learned so much and loved talking to all the other kids in that class. I thought it was the best part of my day.

At an early age, I knew I loved school, but I did struggle.

I loved learning, but I didn’t have parents who were involved, that sat with me to do homework, to study or to read books to or with me. I don’t blame them or resent them for it. My parents both had a third-grade grade education and education just wasn’t a priority in our family at that time.

I made it through my senior year of high school. I was so excited to be the first from my family to graduate. I was even more excited to see my parent’s faces and to show them that I had made it.

I was in the process of planning for college when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter, Emily. At the time I felt devastated. I felt like I had let myself down. Worst of all, I had let my parents down. Well…things happen for a reason and after going to the doctor for my first OB appointment, I found out I had pre-cancerous cells in my cervix and was at a high risk of developing cervical cancer. That led to many years of testing and many treatments, but I made it through that struggle and was blessed with four beautiful children.

I graduated high school June 9th and was married June 19th to my husband of 21 years, Alfredo. And so the life of a

thevenuemag.com | 23

typical Latina woman began for me. I got married, had kids and my dreams of college were no longer a priority, until the day I went to work at Washington State Migrant Council. I learned they could pay for my education and jumped at the opportunity, but my family and my husband no longer saw it as a priority or an option.

I had a lot of convincing to do and when that didn’t work, I decided I would go against not only my family, but also my culture, to educate myself. It wasn’t easy working from 4 a.m. to noon and then driving to Big Bend Community College for evening classes. It took me many years and finally in 2001, I graduated from Big Bend with an AA in Child and Family Education. In 2010, I re-enrolled and earned an Associates in Arts and Science Degree to be able to continue my educational journey, and then in 2012, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Heritage University.

Many people helped make my dream possible. They motivated me and have been there for me on this amazing journey. I want to thank my husband Alfredo, my children and my friend, co-worker and mentor, Terry Kinzel. Thank you.

So, to my Big Bend family, thank you for being here, for not only supporting my education and my personal journey, but for the support you now provide students. I am very lucky to work here.

To the families here I say, “Education transforms lives, and it is something that no one can take away.” You being

here supporting these students makes the biggest difference in their world. Thank you for being here.

To the students I say: Education is a complex process. It is not easy to stay focused or even motivated at times, but you are here and you have made it. I encourage you to continue to follow your dreams and to continue on that path that maybe one day you never imagined.

And in closing…..

I was asked at my last interview, what I thought my greatest accomplishment has been…since then I have thought about it and there are a few things.: I am now an educated Latina My husband is now an educated Latino My biggest accomplishment, though, has been, breaking the typical education cycle that most Latinas fall into…

My daughter Emily, graduated from BBCC as a Running Start student, transferred to Eastern Washington University, and last year graduated with a BA in Communications.

My daughter Stephanie is currently a Running Start student who will graduate from BBCC this year.

My daughter Lisette is in 6th grade, but is already thinking of what college she would like to attend, and my 5 year old son- Jr…well he is just enjoying being the only boy in the house.

So now I can truly say education has “transformed my life” – Thank you.

Diana Villafana is a graduate of Royal High School in Royal City.

24 | thevenuemag.com

Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce

Women’s Day 2015

Saturday, July 11th 10am - 2pm

• Women’s Health and Fitness • Clothing and Accessories • Fashion Show • Gardening Ideas and Fresh Produce • Home Decor and Specialty Products • Wine Tastings And much, much more!

Breakfast and Lunch will be available.

Quincy Community Center 115 F Street SW (HWY 28) Quincy For more information contact: Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce (509) 787-2140

thevenuemag.com | 25

BASIN SUMMER SOUNDS Basin Summer Sounds 12th annual event takes place July 17-18 on the main stage in front of the Grant County Courthouse

BY KIM JORGENSEN Grant County Journal

M

usic from ‘Country Lips’ and a Big Bang Boom sound from a trio putting a family-friendly spin on pop and hip hop combine with a funky favorite, some folk and country-western performers and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee to form a solid lineup for the 2015 Basin Summer Sounds outdoor music festival.

Additional weekend events include The Ephrata Rotary 3-on-3 basketball tournament, the Basin Summer Sounds Car & Toy Show and Shine, inflatable toys for youngsters, food vendors and the beer garden, sponsored by Midway Beverage.

Opening for Basin Summer Sounds 2015 is the Joy Mills Band, with special guest Bonnie Guitar. Mills, a Seattle native and former lead singer of The Starlings, is an alternative country singer/songwriter with a sultry sweet voice that is equal parts Natalie Merchant and Jenny Lewis. The band’s repertoire maintains an urban country with layers of pedal steel and electric guitar. The Joy Mills Band performs Friday (5 p.m.) Austin Jenckes fills the (7 p.m.) Friday slot. Hailing from rural Duvall, Jenckes currently calls Nashville home. He appeared on The Voice in 2013. Performing with Jenckes is guitarist Skyler Mehal, a 2007 Ephrata High School graduate.

Former high school math teacher and Washington State University track star Chance McKinney rounds out the Friday lineup. McKinney’s 9 p.m. performance is categorized as ‘industrialized country,’ a blend of country and rock, 60’s Motown and heavy metal influences.

McKinney was a Division I All-American javelin

thrower at WSU, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1994. After moving to Seattle, Chance taught high school math during the day and honed his skills as a performer at night. In 2007, McKinney formed the group Nathan Chance. The group’s big break was opening for one of Kenny Chesney’s first shows. In September 2009, McKinney — now a solo artist — won CMT’s Music City Madness competition. He will be on tour with Trace Adkins and The Band Perry this summer.

Saturday night headliner, The Gregg Rolie Band, closes out the 2015 Basin Summer Sounds schedule with a 9 p.m. performance. Rolie, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is a founding member of the bands Santana, The Storm, Abraxas Pool and Journey, for whom he was the original lead singer. Rolie was inducted into the Hall of Fame with Santana. As a founding member and the group’s original lead vocalist, Rolie’s voice drives such classic hits as ‘Black Magic Woman’ (US #4), ‘Oye Como Va’ and ‘Evil Ways’.

The Saturday lineup features a diverse group of artists, including Seattle-based musician Larry Murante (11:45 a.m.); ‘Big Bang Boom’ (1 p.m.); ‘Gabo González Project’ ( 2:30 p.m.); Country Lips (4 p.m.); Cloverdayle (5:30 p.m.). Back to celebrate their 20th anniversary in the music business is Seattle’s own DoctorfunK (7 p.m.). DoctorfunK was established in 1995, and has set the standard for soul music in the Pacific Northwest.

For more information visit www.basinsummersounds.com or contact Alayna Lodi at (509) 717-5203 or Kevin Danby at (509) 398-5779.

Gregg is a founding member of the bands Santana, The Storm, Abraxas Pool, and Journey, for whom he was the original lead singer. He currently performs with his Gregg Rolie Band.

Rolie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Santana.

Basin Summer Sounds Artist Line up 2015 Friday July 17 2015 5:00pm Joy Mills Band/w spc guest Bonnie Guitar - www.joymills.com 7:00pm Austin Jenckes - www.austinjenckes.us 9:00pm Chance McKinney - www.chancemckinney.com

Saturday July 18 2015 11:45am Larry Murante - www.larrymurante.com 1:00pm Big Bang Boom - www.bigbangboom.weebly.com 2:30pm Gabo Gonzalez Project - www.gabogonzalezproject.blogspot.mx 4:00pm Country Lips - www.countrylips.com 5:30pm CloverDayle - www.cloverdayle.com 7:00pm DoctorFunk - www.doctorfunk.com 9:00pm Gregg Rolie Band - www.greggrolie.com

Chance McKinney (CMT Music City Madness Winner) brings you “Industrialized Country” at its finest!

2010 Tour Dates included Dwight Yoakam, Jamie O’Neal, Grand Funk Railroad, Creedence Clearwater, Pat Green and Blake Shelton.

C

All in Downtown Ephrata – July 17 & 18

The Best FREE Music Festival in Washington!

SATURDAY ~ Show and Shine

ls!

Anything with whee Rotary RIM 2 RIM 3 on 3 BASKETBALL KIDS ACTIVITIES & Much More!

FRIDAY ~ JULY 17 * 9pm

Chance McKinney Country * 90’s Rock HEADLINER

60’s Motown influences

for complete musical lineup visit

SATURDAY ~ JULY 18 * 9pm HEADLINER

BAND

Founding member of Santana and original lead singer of Journey

www.basinsummersounds.com

30 | thevenuemag.com

Runs: June 19 Through July 12 Directed by Cheri Barbre

thevenuemag.com | 31

BOB: A LIFE IN FIVE ACTS is the summer production at Masquers Theatre. This optimistic comedy is Masquers’ avant garde play of the season. It tells the story of the highly unusual life of our hero, Bob, a role that is colorfully played by Jeff Ames. His lifelong quest is to become a “Great Man”.

BOB: A LIFE IN FIVE ACTS opens on We watch Bob’s journey through life, from June 19 at 7:30. birth to old age. He gets his education by crossThe full schedule is: ing America, and meeting the people who teach him life lessons about generosity, heartbreak, Fridays and Saturdays, at 7:30 PM -wrong turns, and the pursuit of happiness.

June 19 - 20, June 26 & 27, and July 10 & 11 Playing the myriad of people who enter Bob’s life along the way are four ‘character actors’: Sunday Matinees at 2:00 PM -- June 21, 28, and July 12.

Justin Rowland, Jessica Hogge, Lenora Nichols, and Benji Turley, whose art work is on display in Please go to www.masquers.com to the lobby. reserve your seats now! You can also call the Veteran director, Cheri Barbre is excited to be bringing this play by Sinn Nachrieb, to life on the Masquers stage and working with this great cast. She is aided by Pat Schaeffer and Steven Yakish.

theatre at 246-2611, and your call will be returned.

Note: There are no performances over the July 4 weekend – some of our actors have lives outside the theatre!

“This comedy touches on what being successful in life really means,” says Cheri. “You will become engrossed in Bob’s bizarre life journey and keep asking yourself ‘what’s going to happen next to this poor guy, and who will be the next strange person he’s going to meet?’

This is a fun, fast paced riot of a show!”

AUDITIONS

Director Randy Brooks will be holding auditions at 2PM on Sunday July 26 and 7PM on Monday, July 27. This will be for Massquers’ fall musical, Sweeney Todd.

This is a large cast, and chances of getting a role are good. So take your beautiful voice out of the shower and on to the stage!!!

Masquers Annual Membership Event September 12

Dry Falls On Hwy 17, near Coulee City

In the heart of the Grand Coulee lies one of the natural wonders of North America—the Dry Falls cataract.

This 3.5-mile-wide chasm of basalt, with a drop of 400 feet, was left high and dry thousands of years ago as the last of several Ice Age floods swept through the Grand Coulee. This is one of the most extraordinary landscapes to be found along the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail.

The Visitor Center

Next door you will find the Dry Falls Visitor Center, which features indoor exhibits highlighting the Ice Age and early human history of the region. The center also features a comprehensive bookstore—a must stop for those looking to learn more about the Ice Age floods story.

Photography by Jerry Kayser

For information please contact Dry Falls Visitor Center at 509-632-5214 www.parks.wa.gov

Grant PUD ready for sum recreation on Wanapum R 34 | thevenuemag.com

Renovation work on boat launches and camp sites complete

G

rant PUD has completed several renovation projects to enhance public recreation on the Wanapum Reservoir. The work includes extending boat launches, improving campsites, enhancing day-use facilities, and increasing amenities and accessibility to the reservoir for all.

Much of the work on these recreation sites was accelerated during last year’s drawdown of the Wanapum Reservoir, which was in response to the Wanapum Dam spillway. By accelerating the work during dry conditions, Grant PUD was able to reduce impacts to the environment and ensure that the projects would be completed by the start of the summer recreation season.

Another way that Grant PUD is highlighting the start of the recreation season is with a Sunglass Selfie photo contest. This contest will be all online and submissions can be posted on the Grant PUD Facebook and Twitter pages. The contest starts May 22 and will end after Labor Day on September 8.

Participants are encouraged to wear sunglasses with the Grant PUD logo on them for the photo contest. Participants can find these sunglasses at Grant PUD offices.

Some of the basic rules include: Sunglasses must be worn, Grant PUD Sunglasses are preferred Photos or video must have the #sunglassselfie hashtag.

Photos and video may be altered and edited (filtered, cropped, etc.)

There is no limit to the amount of posts by a person, but your name will only be entered into the drawing once Entries need to be appropriate: Grant PUD will follow the current Facebook guidelines. Grant PUD reserves the right to remove any photo that they feel is not appropriate for the contest A lifejacket needs to be worn if photo is taken on the water This year’s prize will be a guided boat tour on the Wanapum Reservoir for four people for four hours this fall on an agreed upon date. Winners for the contest will be selected through a random drawing after the contest has closed. For a complete set of rules, see grantpud.org.

Vantage Boat Launch – Just off I-90 in Vantage, this recreation site as a new deeper and wider boating channel, extended launch and new boarding float and improved amenities, including picnic area and restrooms.

ummer Reservoir

Frenchman Coulee Boat Launch – The boat launch at the end of the old Vantage Highway features a new deeper and wider boating channel, extended launch and new boarding float and improved amenities, including a one-mile shoreline trail, picnic area and vault toilet.

thevenuemag.com | 35

Connect with the fastest* internet in the nation.

Choose your service provider and get connected.

grantpud.org

888-254-1899

* Grant PUD has the fastest download speed in the nation according to Gizmodo.com

36 | thevenuemag.com Membership available to employees & immediate families of: PUD’s & Municipal Corps or Grant, Kittitas, Okanogan & Douglas Counties; employees of cities of Ephrata & Soap Lake, Columbia Basin Hospital and Ephrata School District.

NEW NEW

Call 509-754-5233 or stop by 217 Alder Street SW, Ephrata, WA for details.

Virtual Branch & Bill Pay

Shared Branching

www.cuswirl.com

www.granco.org

Your dream is out there. Go Get it.

We'll protect it.

Chris Arnberg Agency 821 E Broadway Ave Ste 18 Moses Lake, WA 98837 Bus: (509) 764-5144 www.chrisarnberg.com

38 | thevenuemag.com

thevenuemag.com | 39

40 | thevenuemag.com

Open 7 days a week!

panol mos Es Habla Used Tires d New an

Layawa yo rims & n custom new ti res

Tire Rotation & Service with purchase of new tires

June Special Packages $700 15” Wheels and Tires $800 16” Wheels and Tires $900 17” Wheels and Tires 955 W. 3rd Ave. Moses Lake, WA 509-764-7777

Family owned and operated

thevenuemag.com | 41

TireAve Store & Services 955The W. 3rd Moses Lake, WA 955. W 3rd Ave, Moses Lake, WA 509-764-7777 (509)764-7777 Family owned and operated Family owned and operated

42 | thevenuemag.com

Invisible people

by Jan Thacker

T

he last few years I have been more and more convinced that I am becoming an invisible person. It is really evident when I’m power shopping in a city. I can walk through a whole mall and not one person will make eye contact with me. I might as well be a garbage can or a mop bucket or a poorly dressed, aging mannequin.

In the junk food line at the movie theater recently I was standing there with money in hand and a gleam of popcorn and Junior Mints in my eye when two chatting younger women simply walked up and stood in front of me. When one turned and noticed my raised eyebrows she said, “Oh!” as if I was an apparition that had suddenly settled down behind them.

“Were you in line?” she asked. Well, yeah, I thought I was. I was so close to the guy in front of me you had to squish to get between us and your chest made a wrinkle in the back of his shirt as you scraped against him. But that’s OK, you line thief, I’m really not here anyway.

My sister, Judy, always seems to be on the same mental plane as I am, so I brought up the subject with her. I asked her if she ever had the feeling that she was invisible. She thought about it and her eyes grew big with wonder. She did feel that way! She was invisible too!

When you use a parking garage you can have your parking ticket validated by a store clerk so you don’t have to pay the parking fee. Any store representative can validate your parking ticket.

That simple stamp declares that you are a genuine, valuable, customer and your spot in the garage was taken for an important reason.

People need to be “existence validated.” Not by family, who are only too aware of our existence, but by strangers and passersby we encounter in our daily lives.

Years ago my daughters and I attended a Montessori convention in San Diego to peddle the learning materials we were making at the time.

We drove from Boise and spent the night in Las Vegas. There were a few rose bushes by our hotel

and I think I smelled every bloom. Alaska, where we lived then, was still deep in winter.

In San Diego, our convention center was simply landscaped with roses. I’ve never see such glorious roses. But after three days the wonder of them wore off.

The wonder of us as incredible individuals wears off also. We should learn to be more aware of one another. Not just the gorgeous people, the striking, well-groomed people who invite stares simply because of their good looks or fashion savvy. I mean the ordinary, the frumpy, the elderly, the homely, the impaired.

Over 40 years ago a man in our church said something in passing that I have remembered all these years. “You have the most beautiful smile,” he said, “it just brightens the room you are in.” At the time I was suffering from a deep, hellish, depression and panic attacks and my smiles were few and far between. I clung to his words and attempted to smile more often. I am convinced the simple act of smiling worked toward my cure. His kind words were the catalyst I needed.

The world is filled with people who need a few kind words and the encouragement and hope those words can give. Next time you’re in a store look around. You see them everywhere.

Invisible people you wouldn’t glance at twice.

People who are so nondescript they sort of blend into the shelves.

For people my age, 60s and traveling headlong toward 70s, the glory days where the bloom of youth touches us with beauty and energetic splendor, are over. Most of us have settled into the staid puddle of matriarchy and patriarchy. But that doesn’t mean we don’t exist.

We’re just softer and more cuddly.

Since becoming an Invisible Person I have changed my attitude toward others. I actively seek out other invisible people. It’s odd, but in return, I find myself becoming more and more visible.

44 | thevenuemag.com

46 | thevenuemag.com

thevenuemag.com | 47

2015 Season is Open!

Open Daily 10am-5pm • Sunday 1-4pm

Est.1970

CLOSED WEDNESDAY

GUIDED TOURS PROVIDED DAILY UNTIL 4pm

The Historical Village comes to life at

LIVING MUSEUM Saturday, June 13

PIONEER DAY Saturday, Sept. 26

OPEN THROUGH SEPT. 30

h Grant County g HistoriCal MuseuM 742 Basin Street NW • EPHRATA • 754-3334 PAID FOR BY GRANT COUNTY TOURISM

50 | thevenuemag.com

thevenuemag.com | 51

New Exhibit

Prairie Roses:

Pioneer Fashions of the Quincy Valley Just one example is a wedding dress that was worn by a Quincy bride in the early 1900’s.

photos by Robin L. Green

Summer seaso n hours: Friday and Sat urday open for tours Noon to 3pm

Beverly Mayer and Harriet Weber

52 | thevenuemag.com

Est.

2003

thevenuemag.com | 53

Saturday, July 25 9:00-3:00 Downtown Quincy Merchant sidewalk sales!

Vendors with crafts, produce, antiques, fundraising groups and flea market items!

For a vendor application or more information, please email molly.richardson@edwardjones.com or qvprsunshine@gmail.com

54 | thevenuemag.com

thevenuemag.com | 55

We specialize in soups, salads, paninis, sandwiches, espresso, beer and wine.

We also offer produce grown in

annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, roses, baskets, tools, decorative bark, seeds, ceramic pottery, vintage items. open daily 9am to 7pm 12543 Road H SW, Royal City 509-989-0428

the columbia basin.

Dinner available on Friday and Saturday nights.

335 S Broadway Othello, WA 99344 / 509-592-9710

Join us for Summer Fun at the

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN‌

Giving kids a safe and positive place to spend their summer.

Downtown Branch 410 W Third Ave Moses Lake, WA 509 764-9694 North Branch 1220 W Craig Moses Lake, WA 509 766-2654 ext 1421

From July 1st -31st we will hold our 5th Annual Independence from Hunger Food Drive. This year we are partnering with the Boys and Girls Club to help support their efforts in opening the new clubhouse and in providing for the children in their care in the afternoons.

In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision.

Young people need to know that someone cares about them.

Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.

Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow – all while having fun.

It is the place where great futures are started each and every day.

Please join us in July as we give back to our community. You can help by making a cash donation or purchasing a pre-made food bag.

There will be more information about Independence from Hunger and the Boys and Girls Club on our Facebook Page. www.facebook.com/MosesLakeGO

60 | thevenuemag.com

Red Door Cafe Soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods, Craven’s coffee, Winegar’s ice cream Our retail space next door features Furniture, Art, Home Decor Jewelry and Antiques!

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 7:30am to 5pm, Closed Sunday 202 and 206 West 3rd Ave, Moses Lake, WA, 98837

thevenuemag.com | 61

Monday – Saturday 7am-9pm • Sunday 8am-8pm 221 W. Broadway • Moses Lake • 509.765.4177 • www.michaelsmarketandbistro.com

64 | thevenuemag.com

thevenuemag.com | 65

new menu items ials

c e p s h t n o m e h of t

HAPPY HOUR

930 N. Stratford Road | Moses Lake, WA | 509.766.9000 www.rocktopburgersandbrew.com |

66 | thevenuemag.com

Can We Talk?

Have you thought about hospice?

By Dorothy Heikell

H

ow do you see yourself living the final stages of your life? Do you wish to be living at home with your spouse, children and grandchildren around you? When is the last time you gave these questions any thought? Was it before you and your spouse began seeing one doctor or another every week or several times a week? Was it before your retirement weeks and savings began being spent on medical expenses? When did you last talk with your family or your doctor about what you wanted if you could not be fixed? And what does “being fixed” mean to you? In fact, what does “treatment” mean to you?

Cure? Palliation? Hospice?

The fact is that treatment options include not only cure, but also palliation, and, yes, hospice care. Let

We bring compassion

HOME. 509.766.2580

me tell you about the reason that I work for Assured Hospice today. I want to encourage open discussions and honest conversations about what matters to folks. When people are faced with harsh facts about their own mortality with stretchers, sirens, ER visits and hospitals, this is hardly the time for crucial decisions to be made. Yet, that is most often when these decisions occur, under duress, because it was “never the right time to discuss it.”

My mother, Joan, has always been a straight, speak-your-mind kind of woman, unemotional and forthright.

My step-father, El, was highly emotional, tender and gentle. Back in 2005, they declared that I should be their power of attorney as I had asked them the tough questions every year since my nursing school days:

“Look, if you want my help, we have to know what you want, all of us kids, so that we don’t argue, and so you get the life you wish.”

thevenuemag.com | 67

“What will you want if you cannot eat?”; “Do you know how much internal bleeding happens and how many bones are broken during CPR for almost no chance of survival?”

Their answers were always, “No we don’t want that, but we will talk about that more when the time comes.” So, they appreciated my interest in pursuing the issues, but they were not willing to address it permanently until after 2005. At that point, I said, “Look, if you want my help, we have to know what you want, all of us kids, so that we don’t argue, and so you get the life you wish.” So, they proceeded to get the legal documents drawn up and confirm their decisions to the requisite “tough choices” – no feeding tubes, no hydration, no CPR and no ventilator. I was presented with copies, and my siblings were duly informed.

Then, in 2013, El was found to have an aggressive, high grade, fast-growing bladder tumor which had been causing a good deal of nighttime urgency and distress. We had a family consult with the urologist where we asked about palliative surgery (for symptom control and to slow the growth). We also met with the medical oncologist where we asked about palliative chemotherapy or radiation. The oncologist refused chemo due to the neurological toxicity of the treatment and El’s poor functional status. He was unable to walk 100 feet without becoming short of breath, dizzy and painful. A cardiac evaluation and surgery were suggested, although functional status remained a concern.

The surgery was, indeed, palliative, in that El was relieved of the urgency and distress he had been having up to that point. Furthermore, we would not have known how advanced the cancer was without the surgery. His recovery was complicated, not only by his poor condition, but by the aggressiveness of his cancer. He passed away comfortably at home with hospice.

We only had two weeks with hospice, but, I wish we had been on hospice care longer. I say “we” because we, as a family, were all on hospice. We were cared for even in that short period by the pastor, the bereavement/social worker, the doctor, the nurse and the bath aide. We would have used volunteers, also, if El had lived much longer. My mother has

commented positively every time she receives something in the mail, a phone call or a flower in remembrance from the Klickitat Valley Hospice.

What has baffled me since, is why more people do not consider hospice as a viable treatment option far sooner than they do. Why use up all the quality time you have in pursuing painful diagnostics and ER visits when you could be repairing relationships, building trust, having comprehensive symptom management, pain control, and social and spiritual support? It takes time to build trust and rapport. Who wants a stranger calling or showing up at their door to ask how they are and how that stranger can help?

The answers to these questions lie in truth, honesty, persistence and frank discussions during healthy times, with lots of family members involved. This is why I work for Assured Hospice – to bring awareness, to break the mythology surrounding hospice care and to start the conversations. I would like to help start more thoughtful and frequent conversations within the community, and between family members and providers. Yes, these are sensitive topics, but what is the worst that can happen? Dad will say he doesn’t want to think about that right now? So, you can start with estate planning questions. What are your plans for your advancing years? What does that time of your life look like to you? With whom have you discussed your wishes?

Maybe, I can help get you connected with the Five Wishes program through Aging With Dignity. How important is quality of life to you as opposed to a long uncomfortable life? Don’t let the conversation stale and drop off. Keep bringing it up and pursue the answers. If it is important to you, as a dignified person, isn’t it important to us all?

Sadly, these questions are not asked until the efforts to diagnose and fix the unfixable illnesses have used up the quality time that our folks could have spent with their families. By the time the critical decisions need to be made, there are tubes, machines, bells and ER visits, and then, no more walking in the park and no more watching grandchildren with babies.

27 x 3 Gicle

On ca 2” gal ready

Value $475

68 | thevenuemag.com

To all the fathers, grand-fathers, great grand-fathers and anyone else who has been a positive father figure to a young one...

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! beautiful family park in Royal City

thevenuemag.com | 69

photo by Robin Green

70 | thevenuemag.com

JKeele Photograhy

thevenuemag.com | 71

J

Jerry J. Moberg Attorney

M&A is now in its second year. Our mission is to provide a high level of legal services to our community at an affordable price. We have developed strategies that will allow us to represent a wide variety of citizens from public entities like schools and cities to moms and dads who have unexpected legal problems.

We strive to work with every client to make sure that the services we provide are fairly priced and make financial sense to the client. We handle a wide variety of cases including probates and commercial litigation. We represent local companies, farmers and ranchers in a variety of areas. We represent individual citizens who have been wrongfully terminated from their jobs, or suffered injuries through the fault of others, including car accidents and sexual abuse cases. We are able to handle cases throughout the state with offices in Moses Lake, Ephrata and Seattle. We practice in all of the state and federal courts in Washington.

The staff at JM&A cares deeply about the people we represent and makes every effort to assist them through difficult times. We are thankful for the community support we have received over the past 18 months and we look forward to serving this community in the future.

Jerry J. Moberg

Patrick R. Moberg Attorney

Mary Moberg Paralegal

D. Lee Pence Attorney

Molly Schultz Legal Assistant

Shareen Laughlin Business Manager

Mindy Klingenberg Paralegal

James E. Baker Attorney

Lisa Laughlin Legal Assistant

Brian Christensen Attorney

Dawn Severin Paralegal

72 | thevenuemag.com 27 x 32 Giclee Print On canvas with 2” gallery wrap, ready to hang.

Valued at $475

meleajohnsonart.com MELEAJOHNSONART.COM

(will be delivered to CrossFit Respite Care Industrious for pick Support Group up on October 27)

• Adult Daycare • Family Education Services • Safe & Secure Community

artist: melea johnson

Ready to “Open New Doors”

Your

Here’s a Glimpse into the Last 6 Years of My 10-Year Real Estate Career!

2009 Helped 25 Buyers & Sellers Sold $3.8 Million in Real Estate

2010 Helped 35 Buyers & Sellers Sold $2.97 Million in Real Estate

2011 Helped 36 Buyers & Sellers Sold $6.8 Million in Real Estate

2012 Helped 46 Buyers & Sellers Sold $7.5 Million in Real Estate

2013 Helped 59 Buyers & Sellers Sold $9.4 Million in Real Estate

2014 Helped 85+ Buyers & Sellers Sold Over $15 Million in Real Estate

JoyceDeLeon Opening New Doors

830 NW SUNBURST CT. • MOSES LAKE • 764-1900

thevenuemag.com | 73

Moses Lake C h a m b e r of Commerce

We are accepting 2015 nominees “Ag Hall of Fame” We would like to honor and recognize distinguished individuals that have made significant contributions to the agricultural industry and our community.

To nominate your farmer go to www.moseslake.com/halloffame.html, or stop by the Chamber’s office

324 S Pioneer Way • Moses Lake, WA 98837 •509‐765‐7888 •www.moseslake.com • informa�on@moseslake.com

74 | thevenuemag.com

Listen for your chance to call 765-5376 that’s 765-KDRM and WIN! Watch for us live on location this summer.

thevenuemag.com | 75

76 | thevenuemag.com

thevenuemag.com | 77

62 | thevenuemag.com 78 thevenuemag.com

Small Town Charm ...at its best

Visit us online at www.VisitRitzville.com for a complete list of our festivals and events!

Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce (509) 659-1936 • chamber@ritzville.com

509-681-2013

www.couleecity.com Painting by local Don Nutt

See our website for a complete calendar of local events & signup for our monthly enewsletter.

Become a fan of LakeTown Landing & MLBAcares.org on MOSES LAKE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

509.764.1745 • www.mlbacares.org

thevenuemag.com thevenuemag.com | 7963

306 Midway Hwy 155 • www.grandcouleedam.org

The city we’re all proud to call our home. home

Ephrata

Chamber of Commerce

1 Basin Street SW • PO Box 275 • Ephrata, WA 98823

(509) 754-4656

info@ephratawachamber.com • www.ephratawachamber.com

Cara 509.989.2679

Your

APPLY TODAY! Online BY PHONE or Come visit us at your local branch or call to ask about our great rates, easy equity line access, and automatic payment options today! Or, visit our website to learn more!

NMLS 407890