Venue 8 14 final v2

SEPTEMBER 2014

MOLAHIETTES Passing the baton

SUMMER EVENTS IN THE BASIN

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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.

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

Back to school!

NEW NEW

Three locations – Always a special!

530 W. Valley Rd., by Chico’s, & inside Samaritan Hospital

Virtual Branch & Bill Pay

Shared Branching

www.cuswirl.com

www.granco.org

Agri-Fix

Towing/Tractor repair

“Going Mobile” at Farmer’s Market Every Saturday

Locally owned and operated since 1995.

Offering towing services and tractor repair at unbelievably low rates, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Farm Equipment • Hauling • Towing & Recovery • IH™ • Case™ John Deere™ • Ford™ • Massey™

Proudly Serving Moses Lake • Ritzville Othello • Ephrata • Warden

765-1315 750-8759 766-6354

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o l a i p a a A m n l c g

V

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Sunrise at 5:45am

born and added to their herds, working round the clock keeping watch so no harm comes to them.

These hardworking people feed us.

It is not easy. Farming and ranching demands a high degree of sagacious business savvy to keep up with technology, the market, the climate, government... the constant challenge of new demands and daily unknowns, etc.,etc.

It requires gumption, to say the least. t goes without saying the portion If you listen closely to their family of this fine earth we call home is stories, however, you will hear the largely agricultural and livestock based appreciation of complete beauty in and life on the farm or ranch is shared Never give up. Ever. their surroundings and peace in the in conversation with a large part of our silence of a still early sunrise. The population. There is a sense of pride This lifestyle rings true with the beginning of another new day. A day and credibility in the conversations farming families in all our region, each to be glad they have. about growing up on a farm or ranch. strategically watching the progression And if you listen, you will find that of the crop in the field and preparing most of these families would trade for harvest... nothing for the lessons learned physically, mentally and with high lessons that produce strength of hopes for the reward of pure character and solid foundations for dedication. Ranching families generations to come. tending to the new livestock being

I

Being the daughter of Mel Updegrave, I have shared many a chuckle with local farmers and ranchers recalling stories about my dad and then my sharing stories with them of treasured moments as a child under his watch. My dad was a friend to the farmer/rancher spending his life energy making sure water was reaching the crop and sustaining the livestock. Nothing was taken for granted. Hard work was the way of each day. Doing whatever it took to get a job done was a way of life.

-Melea Johnson

thevenuemag.com click on printed version to view full magazine online

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, Michaelle Boetger, Lisa Basher, Tomi Naff Contributing Writers: Jan Thacker, Ben Ormond, Mark Ellestad, Ben Getz, Annie Bruce, Doug Haugen, Sue Tebow, 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: Haley Sell and Jaylynn Hernandez Photo: Julie Waites Photography

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Giving a hand up... not a hand out Story/JAN THACKER

On Facebook, the most-read posts seem to be those tear-jerkers about people overcoming some great obstacle or helping other people. Posts about dogs are also popular.

Dogs are a big deal on Facebook. If there’s a post about a dog dragging a toddler from a burning car it’ll get lots of “likes.” If the dog is blind, missing a leg, and is hoisted into the blazing car by an elephant that happened to have escaped from a nearby zoo, the post will reach crazy status.

Add that the dog performed CPR by jumping up and down on the kid’s chest and it’ll zoom around the world forevermore, bobbing up from the Internet depths every few months and causing more shedding of tears.

Humans naturally respond to stories of giving, of tales that warm the heart and provide us with hope and encouragement. It makes us better people to realize that the world abounds with goodness and kindness.

I come from a long line of givers, those who continually helped others. I don’t think a week went by that my mom and dad didn’t quietly help someone. When my aunt started a food bank in Whitefish, Montana, years ago we were all dragged in to help. Today that humble food bank that started in a garage is housed in a huge new warehouse. My fondest example was my Granddad Smith who, in his 80s, was still standing in the gap for those in need. Grammy would use strips of cloth to tie a hoe to his arthritic hands so he could weed his garden. Every week he would deliver baskets of produce, raspberries and strawberries to the “old people” on his list.

In the winter they delivered jars of canned fruit, jellies and jams and homemade bread.

Many months ago, my daughter Lisa Boorman and I got involved with Community Care Project (CCP) in Moses Lake. We came to realize that what this quiet unassuming group does is truly heart-warming. Lisa and I

own Red Door, a store on Third Avenue in Moses Lake, that sells consigned furniture, home decor, antiques, art and jewelry. We also sell new items and a Author, Jan Thacker few months back added a clothing boutique selling new clothes.

Over the months, we got more involved with Community Care leaders Jeff and Theresa Wallace and other members of the group. Jeff and Theresa pastor Covenant Church of Moses and our entire family, 13 of us, started being active in the church. (We love this church!) At Red Door CCP started a monthly downtown prayer session to pray for our leaders, our country, our town. The Covenant youth group took over the expansive upstairs of the store and have decorated “The Loft” beautifully. We have now started taking in consignment items to sell for CCP in the store.

From the very beginning we dedicated Red Door to God and it isn’t unusual for people to come in and ask for prayer. We’ve dried many tears and heard many happily-ever-after stories from our beloved “Red Door people.” As time went on we all realized that our relationship with CCP was God-ordained. With much prayer on both sides, especially Lisa and me and our husbands, and Jeff and Theresa Wallace, it became clear that Red Door was to partner with them.

So, what is CCP, this non-profit entity that has the mission of giving a hand up, not a hand out?

“CCP began through our outreach team at Covenant

Jan Thacker grew up in Whitefish, Montana, and she and her husband dragged the family to Alaska in 1975. Fairly new residents of Moses Lake, she co-owns Red Door with her daughter, Lisa Boorman. A longtime journalist, artist, and author, her paintings and book (The Widows of Danford) are available at Red Door.

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Church,” says Pastor Jeff Wallace. “For the last twoplus years we were delivering bread and other necessities to a low income neighborhood in Moses Lake twice a month. We never intended to make this as much about our church as we wanted to make it more about Jesus.

So we did not introduce ourselves as Covenant Church, but Community Charities, which was the first name we came up with.

That name lasted maybe a month. We started thinking, do we want to be known as a charity group? Then, through discussion with our team, we came up with Community Care Project. So this is how we started introducing ourselves as we delivered bread and met people in our community.”

He added that this was just the first step. “The incident to trigger larger vision was a combination of two things: First, we, Theresa and myself, were in bible college. One of the courses I was taking was teaching how to put together or define a ministry, Mission Statements. Vision Statements, Core Values etc... and as I was writing a paper I leaned towards Community Care Project as my ministry subject. The second was an event under CCP umbrella called Burst the Bug. When we saw the response of the wonderful people in our community coming alongside us at Wal-Mart (donating school supplies to needy children), we knew then that we were on to something.”

There are five members on the CCP board, and about 15 regular volunteers. What they do is amazing. The end of July they converged at Circle K and Grocery Outlet for a “Fuel and Food Giveaway,” filling gas tanks and grocery carts of those who needed some help. In August they will again “Burst the Bug,” gathering school supplies. They also help financially. Without the assistance of CCP, the beneficiaries would be facing devastating foreclosure,

missed school and medical appointments due to unreliable transportation, or put those who depend on them most at risk due to an inability to pay rent, an electrical bill, or for car repair.

“Our future is bright,” Jeff Wallace says of the organization. “We have many plans that we have not blueprinted yet, and are not ready to disclose, but with continued help with our Red Door friends and other local business partners we will do our best to reach our community one person at a time.”

And Lisa and I, at Red Door, are so very humbled to be a part of it. We might not have a hoe tied to our hands, but we’re quietly helping just the same. There is such need in Moses Lake and this community is blessed to have many caring and giving organizations and people wanting to make lives better.

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Join us

AT MOSES POINTE!

LIVE MUSIC & EVENTS

Call for schedule

upcoming events: 7/12 RYLEI FRANKS 7/17 JONES OF WA WINE DINNER 7/19 "CITY STREET" 7/25 MARY LOEFFELBEIN

8/1 "17 X 90" Please come view the8/9 artworkHOMETOWN of HOOLIGANS Melea Johnson 8/22 LAKETOWN JAZZ meleajohnsonart.com

509.764.2275 FOR RESERVATIONS 4524 Westshore Dr NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837 • 509-764-2275 • mosespointe.com

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Membership available to employees & immediate families of: PUD’s & Municipal Corps or Grant, Kittitas, Okanogan & Douglas Counties; employees of cities of Ephrata & Soap Lake.

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

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all new! beer flights 4 beers/$7

cool off with a

a t i r a n Coro

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

MOSES LAKE

2014 FREE SUMMER CONCERT & MOVIE SERIES

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July 4th Celebration

5 pm Free Community Picnic 8 pm Eclectic Approach Concert 10 pm Fireworks July 11th Free Movie in the Park July 18th Free Movie in the Park July 19th Amphitheatre Concert 8 pm

Centennial Amphitheatre McCosh Park All Concerts and Movies are FREE! All Movies Start at Dusk Produced by: Moses Lake Parks & Recreation For more information 509.764.3805

www.mlrec.com

August 2nd Five Suns Bluegrass Festival

Collin Raye

July 25th Free Movie in the Park August 1st Five Suns Bluegrass Festival 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm

The Downtown Mountain Boys FarmStrong Front Country Pearl Snaps Della Mae

4-8pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm

$9.95 Salmon Feed Topstring FarmStrong The Downtown Mountain Boys Front Country Chatham County Line

August 8th Free Movie in the Park August 22nd Free Movie in the Park August 30th Amphitheatre Concert 8 pm

Los Lobo

Sponsored in part by: Umpqua Bank, REC Silicon Inc., Weinstein Beverage, Grant County Tourism, KBSN/KDRM RADIO, Columbia Basin Herald, A to Z Rental Company, AmeriStay Inn & Suites, Ramada Moses Lake, Lamb Weston BSW/ConAgra Foods, Moses Lake Industries, Lioness Club of Moses Lake, Washington Trust Bank, Confluence Health Moses Lake, Lad Irrigation Co., KWIQ Radio, Law Office of Lemargie, Kenison, Wyman & Whitaker, Chemi-Con Materials Corp., General Dynamics Corp., Washington State Potato Commission, Hot Spring Spas and Leisure, Lil’ Chiefs Child Care Center LLC, Stewart Title, Signs Now and Quick Cash PARKS & RECREATION

RED WIENER CANTINA located inside Cougar Liquor in soap lake

“HealtHy Home cooked eats, Using FresH local ingredients”

Grant C ounty’s BEST

BREAKFAST

is in Soap Lake!

Mexican Breakfast served all day Sunday!

HOURS: 8am to 6pm Monday – Saturday • 8am to 3pm Sunday 110 HWY 17 (DAISY ST.) • SOAP LAKE • 509-246-1432 • Wines | Beers | Cougar Gold Cheese | Baked Goods | Espresso Bar Local Craft Beers | Gourmet Deli Sandwiches | WSU’s Ferdinand’s Ice Cream

Cougar LIQUOR “It’s Where Your Momma Gets It!”

The Pacific Northwest’s Premier

LIQUOR OUTLET

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S OaUyN D S T HnEesd Yed E N JO W S IC O F LI V E JA Z Z M U

IG HT WIN E N e 11th, 25th idaoyffthbottles : Fr/2 July1 8th, 22nd August: Friday the

Casual Elegance Central Washington’s Dining Destination

Steaks • Seafood • Salads

910 W. Broadway Ave. • Moses Lake • 509-765-1611

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breakfast • lunch • dinner

newu men s! item

BISTRO

Chicken Parmesan

Mushroom Chicken Burger

Dana’s Favorite Panini

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

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SERVING DELICIOUS BREAKFAST & LUNCH English Muffins • Donuts Fish & Chips • Smoothies Frozen Yogurt & Much More!

ENJOY OUR ICE COLD ITALIAN COFFEE & DRINKS THIS SUMMER! Only the finest products go in & out of our kitchen!

COMING SOON!

Hand-crafted micro-brews made in-house by experienced brew masters.

509.396.6536 1111 Evelyn Drive, Moses Lake 8am - 4pm Sunday - Thursday 8am - 6pm Friday - Saturday Coffee Drive Thru Like us on

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PROFESSIONAL

DESIGN LOGOS • MARKETING • PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS • PRINTING • SIGNAGE • FLYERS • POSTERS • WEBSITES • SOCIAL MEDIA • EMAIL MARKETING

Sept. 17th

michaelleboetger.com • 766-9001

BUSINESS CARDS FULL COLOR, DOUBLE SIDED NO EXPIRATION. DOES NOT INCLUDE DESIGN, SHIPPING OR TAX.

$12

250 FOR $12, 500 FOR $20, 1000 FOR $30 PROFESSIONALLY PRINTED 14PT CARDSTOCK • GLOSS OR MATTE FINISH

Tina Thorp, Brewster All media

Lucy Anderson, Moses Lake Whimsical

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SPRINg INTO SuMMER

Dinner Party We would like to thank all of our sponsors and donors who contributed to make the Soroptimist Dinner Party a great success! Thanks to our generous community we exceeded our goals. Together we will be making a greater impact to serve those in need in Moses Lake.

Event Sponsors Columbia Glass Quality for the Home

VINTNERS

Event Donors

ANDY & LINDA MCKAY • TONY & JENN WEBB • PAT & HEIDI MEIER • MEL & LISA BRADLEY ROCKY & JANET TERRY • STEPHANIE HESSE & KELLIE HESSE • MOSES LAKE SENIOR LIvINg

Dinner Party Donors MEL & LISA BRADLEY AND CAvE B INN & ESTATE WINERY, TONY & JENN WEBB AND DINO & RHONDA CACCHIOTTI, TIM & DEBBIE vEDDER, DEBBIE DORAN-MARTINEz, NICK & BECKY MEYER AND DON & CAROLANN SWARTz, DAWN MuNN, DONNA SPORLEDER, MARgARET WALz, MOSES LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, BuTCH & LISA MILBRANDT, HIDDEN MEADOWS – SHANNON HINTz & REvA MILLER, JEREMY & MICHAELLE BOETgER, LIONESS CLuB OF MOSES LAKE, ST. BRIgID’S BREWERY

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Sponsored By Rathbone Sales

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“Motorsports Fun In Grant County”

Jerry’s Auto Supply Racing Series presents: AUGUST 2 Street Stock Shoot Out with WVSO at Ephrata.

Also the V6 Super Cars (Youth), V6 Supers (Adults), Mini Stocks “A” & “B”, 360 Sprints Gate open at 5pm

9 Motocross Under the Lights. Gate open at noon 16 Fair Week – Closed 23 Local Racing – all classes. Gate open at 5pm 30 Closed for Labor Day Holiday SEPTEMBER 6 Season Championships for all classes. Gate open at 5 pm 13 Motocross Under the Lights 20 @ Wenatchee – ERP/WVSO Challenge Series Championships. Check gate & time @ WVSO.com 27 Motocross and Awards - time tbd

www.ephrataracewaypark.com

ephrataracewaypark@gmail.com • 509-398-7110 • Class Sponsors: Kim Janke State Farm Agent V6 Super Cars, Ephrata Pioneer Muffler II V Supers, Schaeffer Oil Mini Stocks, Jerry’s Auto Supply Street Stocks and Pepsi Racing 360 Sprints

2-MINUTE SHOPPING SPREE! From September 1st – September 30, 2014 you can enter for your chance to win a 2-minute Grocery Outlet Shopping Spree.

Name _________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________ City/State/Zip:____________________________________________ Phone Number:___________________________________________ Respite Care • Adult Daycare • Family Education Support Group Services • Safe & Secure Community

Birthdate: _______________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Offer good at the Moses Lake Grocery Outlet. No purchase necessary. Excludes alcohol. Winner to be notified by October 3, 2014. Must be able to participate in the shopping spree on October 11, 2014 at 8am. Information above is for the sole use of Moses Lake Grocery Outlet. Drop off entry form in the store to enter.

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

1177 Stratford Road, Moses Lake www.groceryoutlet.com/MosesLake-Wa • 509-766-7650

Welcome To

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Odessa!

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Odessa, a vibrant community of 1,000 residents, is located within the geographically unique area known as the Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington.

Visitors and residents enjoy a safe, warm, and friendly atmosphere in close proximity to outdoor recreational areas and reasonable traveling distance to urban amenities. We are a community where integrity, security and community are the rule, rather than the exception. Connected to the world by modern technology, business opportunities are expanding beyond the traditional agricultural base. Citizens of Odessa rely on our dependable infrastructure, outstanding schools, accomplished hospital and our very competitive commerce.

Come visit for a day or stay for a lifetime.

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Gremutlichkelt - the spirit of comradeship and good times Welcome to the 44th Deutschesfest in Odessa, Washington

September 19, 20 and 21 Condon Dental Services, PS

(509) 982-2605

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LF & RV ODESSA GO

509-982-0093

509 982-2999 17 E 1st Ave • Odessa Full Service Restaurant

Crab Creek Coffee Haus

213 West 1st Ave • Odessa • 509-982-2222

Featuring deli style sandwiches, home style soups, dine-in or take out, drive-thru, espresso & specialty drinks

ExpEriEncE Quilts!

We carry an assortment of quilters’ cottons, flannels, batiks, blenders and more. We also have a great selection of notions, batting and gift items, and we offer longarm quilting services.

509.982.2012

4 West 1st Avenue • Odessa, WA www.experiencequilts.com

S e p t . 1 9, 2 0 a n d 2 1

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Deutschesfest began in small way in 1971. No one was certain how many visitors would be on hand for the first celebration on Friday of that year. By Saturday, however, the food booths were sold out. The Biergarten was out of beer. Even Odessa’s tavern’s ran out of beer. The Fest organizer’s had to run to the neighboring towns of Ritzville, Wilbur and Moses Lake to gather up all the beer they could buy, to serve the Saturday crowd.

The only thing they didn’t move was factory made pickles. No one was interested in the food unless it was made in Odessa. And every year since the pickles are homemade by a committee, following a recipe handed down for decades from the first immigrants who settled Odessa. In later years, the art of making sauerkraut was added.

Today, neither product is left by Monday morning.

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Cindy Haase

High Speed Internet

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Dogmeat What is an enigma.... or dog meat for that matter?

Story by Ben Getz

Meghan and Will Farrell

A

s a card carrying member of the oh so diverse worldwide order of ‘Motorcycle Enthusiasts’, it still amazes me at times the degrees of separation and vast array of individual taste that our passion for two wheels entails. There will never be any agreement for some on what motorcycle brand is best, what engine configuration rules, and do not even get me started on the “discussions” generated about tire or oil choice! There is one thing however on which I think each and every sane motorcyclist (a contradiction of terms?) will agree. Cancer Sucks!

Regardless of the niche we fall into, most, if not all of us riders are touched by cancer in some way. We know a friend or fellow club member who has it, or a family

member, or even if we just participate in the ever increasing number of Poker Run/Rally/Biker meets to raise money for someone or something cancer related.

Because our ‘brotherhood’ is so enormous, when we meet a unique individual who not only shares our love of bikes, but who also has an interesting back story, we are impelled to share it with others. Enter, Dogmeat Enigma. What is an enigma...or dog meat for that matter?

The origin of this moniker is still somewhat wrapped in mystery, and even wrapped in bacon it would sound not all that appetizing. Our subject has gone by the nickname ‘Dogmeat’ for so long he can’t remember where it started, and he added the’ Enigma’ part as his business name under which he does some very impressive, creative, even artistic motorcycle and more related machining and fabrication.

His given name is Will Farrell....no, not the self described comedic genius, Will Ferrell, (sp) that is another part to this story we will get to later. But first, a little background on young Will ‘Eff with an A’ from Ellensburg whom I met a few years ago over a trunk full of motorcycle parts.

Will was born to Army parents in fort Benning, GA, and his early years as an “Army Brat’ were not spent as nomadically as some; moving from base to base. His parents were able to land a more permanent station in Hawaii of all places, where Will grew up until the age of 12 pursuing all the usual interests of an island dwelling lad. In the late 90’s he, along with his parents and younger sister moved back to the mainland, and Will continued on in his main goal; to become an Army officer and make it a career as his parents had done. He excelled in school and entered college under ROTC credits and started pursuing Asian Studies and Mechanical Engineering. It was in his freshmen year of college, sometime around 2006, that Will was bitten by the ‘motorcycle bug’. He was a performance car guy who never really thought that much about bikes until he took up on the offer to ride a friend’s two-wheeler.

As many of us can relate to, once he experienced that ‘certain feeling’ that only a motorcycle can create...he was hooked.

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Enigma Like the twisty roads that so many of us riders crave that can have that surprise blind corner, life sent Will into an unexpected turn that made his course a challenge to say the least. In 2006 he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, an especially egregious form of the disease in that it strikes the young at their prime it seems. The Farrell

family was no stranger to dealing with serious afflictions; Will’s mother has been fighting MS for many years and is confined to a wheelchair.

So with typical Army toughness, Will soldiered on through the chemo treatments to aggressively fight his illness, while refocusing and continuing his education, even working a deal with the Army to be able to stay active in the reserves.

Will remembers how focusing on things other than his treatment or disease helped; thinking about how he could design, engineer, and create unique one-off items for motorcycles, knowing that owners are

Continued on page 44

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In 1981, a local farmer, Dennis Higashiyama, was working on his tractor and listening to America’s favorite radio host, Paul Harvey, have a conversation about the necessity of farming and farmers. The woman in this conversation expressed her opinion by saying, “I don’t understand why we need farmers, don’t they know we can just go to the grocery store and buy what we need?”

Local farmers were outraged. In our region we live in a world of agriculture and are familiar with the faces of the hardworking families who bring food to our table (and our stores), however, this conversation illustrated clearly how farmers and consumers had drifted apart – leaving many people with little or no understanding about how food actually arrives on their grocery shelves.

Because of this, on the second weekend in September, every year, the Quincy Valley community prepares a unique celebration called Quincy Farmer-Consumer Awareness Days (FCAD), which educates the consumer on the farm to market process.

For farmers, FCAD is an opportunity to show the fruits of their labor and demonstrate the tools and techniques used in their work. For the public, the event has tours of area processing plants and farms, displays of farm equipment, informational and commodity booths, and a farmers market. The event profiles our local farm families, our abundant farmlands and the businesses that are determined to stay on the cutting edge to provide the very best food possible.

So, the next time you say, “Pass the potatoes, please,” remember the dedicated farmers at the heart of our rural communities. We at VENUE Magazine encourage you to bring your whole family to the Quincy Farmer Consumer Awareness Day(s) Celebration and get acquainted with our local people who bring us fresh foods from the earth.

To them, we say thank you!

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Yo u a r e a p a r t of the l a n d you w o r k A showcase of the farm and ranch lifestyle is celebrated in our region with county fairs; the Quincy Farmer Consumer Awareness Days; the rodeos; the auctions; the posted signs along the highway labeling the crops in the field; the farmer’s markets; and community festivals in all our region.

It goes without saying our region is largely agriculturally based and life on the farm is shared in conversation with a large part of our population. There is a sense of pride and credibility in the conversations about growing up on a farm. And if you listen you will find that most of these families would trade nothing for the lessons learned - lessons that produce strength of character and solid foundations for generations. (writing below is by unknown author) As a child growing up on a ranch or farm you learn to go to bed early so you’ll be able to saddle up in the moonlight for an early-morning cow gathering. You learn never to turn your back on a cow. Never step in front of a two-year-old colt. Know the best route to the watering hole. Know what plants horses shouldn’t eat. If you get bucked off, get right back on. Let company ride the nice horses.

You learn how to pick out a socket wrench, an open-ended wrench, an adjustable wrench, a washer, and “this size bolt” from a five-gallon bucket of rusty tools at any time. Be ready to fix the fence.

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Don’t have a smart mouth.

You were born knowing how to drive a truck and tractor. You learn to pull a 24foot goose-neck stock trailer, and learn to back it up. Don’t get anything stuck in the mud. You know how deep it is, before you cross it. Never play around farm machinery, like feed-grinders and tractors, and other pieces of equipment that have power takeoff and/or blades.

You know the different sounds the hay equipment makes: which ones are normal, which ones mean you’re tearing something up. You don’t take an hour lunch break when you’re cutting hay, ever. If there’s rain in the forecast, don’t take a break at all.

You treat your cows like they’re your babies and your horses even better. Never get between a mama cow and her baby calf, and never get behind a bull. Never leave the gate open. Know how to read a pregnant cow. Know how to work a 3am calf-pulling.

Know where the flashlights and batteries are for the same event. Never forget to check first calf heifers, and be able to count cattle even when they’re bunched up in a herd. Know how to read cow buyers at an auction.

You learn that daddy can fix anything, and mama is productive. You learn to help in the family garden; milk the cows; feed the animals and get all assigned chores done before going out to explore and play.

You learn how to give and take and respect.

You learn to be grateful for a new day; the next sunshine; the progression of the crop in the field. You find a sense of complete beauty in your surroundings and find peace in the silence of a still morning.

You prepare for harvest; physically, mentally and with high hopes for the rewards of dedication. You are part of the land you work.

VENUE Magazine offers sincere appreciation of our ranch and farm families. We say thank you for the strong roots you plant for our communities, our families, our children– our grandchildren – our great-grandchildren.

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Quincy Valley Balloon Festival prepares to take flight

A letter from Kent and Kim Bacon Farmer Consumer Awareness Dayis Quincy’s day of celebrating farming and everything that is involved. For locals it is also a time for social gathering. The day’s festivities include touring local farms, a parade, a fun run, food and other vendors, contest, a car show, entertainment, and tractor pull. The idea for the balloon festival was to have a way to end the day’s events with something fun for the family as a grand finale.

The balloon festival began in 2008 at our home. Kent was the owner of Twin Firs Turf, a 200 acre sod farm.

Needless to say we had a really big yard!

Parties on the Green was established after Kent’s daughter married on the farm. It was a perfect venue for fun gatherings. We had no idea what we were actually going to be taking on since neither one of us had been to a balloon festival.

Paul Benson, a Wenatchee balloon pilot had been taking off from Twin Firs Turf for over 20 years. Kent had taken a balloon ride with him but that was pretty much his expiereince with hot air balloons! I myself had never even seen one take off.

We contacted the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce to see if we could get information about how to start a balloon festival. We were told that if we could volunteer time at the Balloon Stampede we would be able

to learn what it takes. We took the opportunity.

Walla Walla has over 39 years of the Balloon Stampede and it has over 40 balloons that participate in that festival. To this day we give credit to Walla Walla for sharing valuable information and being so helpful to us.

There is more to a balloon festival than getting sponsors. Balloon Pilots must follow FHA regulations and meet insurance requirements. Jerry Cummins from Walla Walla has served as Balloonmeister over The Stampede as well as the Quincy festival. As Balloonmeister Jerry has made sure all pilots are current on all requirements and that they have a safe record. Jerry has guided us very well and we are so thankful to him.

The costs of a festival are enormous and without sponsors the event would not have happened. The first festival in 2008 began with 7 balloons, 8 sponsors, some donations from the community, and a handful of volunteers. To offset the cost not covered by sponsors we charged an admission fee of $15 for a carload of 6 people.

The morning launches were scheduled to take off from Monument School in Quincy. Unfortunately, the wind kicked up and the balloons were not able to fly that morning. Luckily the weather cooperated and the balloons were able to take off that afternoon from Twin Firs Turf.

The Nightglow, when the balloons inflate at night (but they don’t take off), is an absolutely beautiful display but for the Pilot it can be a challenge to keep the balloon on the ground because natural tendency is for it to go up when the envelope is filled with propane.

We were lucky enough to have Steve Sogura; an Elvis tribute artist as our entertainment.

We choose Steve because we knew him personally and knew that he was not only a great entertainer he was also great with a crowd of all ages.

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With this being the first festival we had no history of how many people would actually be in attendance and finding food vendors to come sell concessions was our biggest challenge. We couldn’t find any. Without having any numbers to give them we could not find a food vendor willing to come out with a concession stand. Local wineries and Iron Horse Brewery from Ellensburg were setting up a wine tasting tent and we knew most people would enjoy the wine tasting so having food available to purchase was necessary. Michael’s on the Lake from Moses Lake was willing to come as a caterer. This meant we had to presale food.

As with anything you do the first time is a huge learning curve and this was no different. Truth be known there were many times we were thinking “what were we thinking?” We made it through the evening and the response to the festival was great! We estimated a crowd of maybe 1,200. The balloons illuminated and they were spectacular. ”Elvis” was great and he quickly became a crowd favorite. The people in attendance were happy and respectful of our “yard” and it was kept pretty clean. Our sponsors were happy and looking forward to supporting the festival again the following year.

We soon realized that setting up and taking down took more

time than we had imagined but overall it was worth it. In 2009 we brought the festival back with the same sponsors and a few more. We kept the same entertainer and the Nightglow continued to awesome. We raised our admission price to$20 a carload. We still had the local wineries and Iron Horse Brewery for beer and wine tasting but food vendors were still a challenge. We were able to get concessions but the problem tended to be long lines and running out of food. Despite that we had more people in attendance and the event grew.

In 2010 we had a few more balloons, a few more sponsors and more people in attendance. We were starting to see that more people were coming from outside areas and utilizing hotels and campgrounds. This was great for tourism in Quincy! Steve Sogura was still a crowd favorite and he has his own fans that travel to see him perform, this was great for

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business. By this time the festival was growing. Six Chuter Powered Parachutes had joined in and were able to provide rides for people as well their presence in the sky.

This was the first year fireworks were the finale to the day’s activities and they were an automatic hit.

By 2011 the festival was growing in attendance. We were adding a few more balloons and more sponsors. Northwest Pyrotechnics Association was now doing firework displays that were simple amazing. Their love of the sport boosted attendance at the festival and became a huge part. By this time the crowd was growing and we had the food vendor issues worked out. We were able to give back to our community and we had school service groups able to earn money and get volunteer hours.

As the event grew so did the stress. We were both working full time jobs and the venue was still a working farm. We were still able to cover costs between admissions and sponsors so this was a great thing to keep going. In 2012 the event had not only grown but so had the firework display. With crowd safety we were starting to see that even though we had a huge yard, we still needed some distance between the fireworks and the crowd. In 2013 we had leased out our sod farm to Central Bean. We would still have room for the festival but we needing more set up and starting to see we were running out of room.

Unfortunately, we had some weather that changed when bean harvest would take place leaving the festival field not harvested. When you hear Paul Harvey’s “The heart of a Farmer” story it became very real to us and we were shown the heart of a farmer. Instead of canceling the event our neighbor Mike Goodwin offered up his field across the road from us so moved the event over to the next field. The festival took place in the middle of a freshly harvested bean field instead of on the perfect green grass. It was not perfect but then again as we said “This is farming!”

Despite the move the attendance was still large and the fireworks were over the top and stunned us all yet again. We were able to have a hot air balloon pilot do a school program at George Elementary School. This was a great science lesson and the kids got to see the balloon inflated. We are looking forward to bringing more school programs to Quincy at the 2014 Balloon Festival.

The new year of 2014 brought some personal changes for us. We sold Twin Firs Turf in January. We are excited that the Quincy Balloon Festival will move forward under Quincy Valley Tourism Association. We are still the organizers of the event and very much involved. This year the location for the event will be in town. Saturday and Sunday morning launches will take place at Monument School in Quincy. Saturday night’s festivities will be at Lauzier Park.

This year Steve “Elvis” Sogura will take the stage again and the Northwest Pyrotechnics will be lighting up the sky as usual. We see Quincy Valley Tourism taking the festival to new heights and we see positive growth in the amount of people that will be able to see the event in town. A great change is now the festival is free to the public. If you have questions please call 509 787-3795 or visit our website at partiesonthegreen.com Sincerely, Kent & Kim Bacon Balloon Festival Organizers

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Relief Driver...

“What a relief” place and do custom work for a couple of other guys. These jobs keep Ron and our son Donnie busy year round. I do help out now and then, running to town for parts or taking in a hay sample. Basically, I am the gopher.

I

have been called to duty so to speak.

When my husband needs a relief driver he gives me a call. I am glad to help. Actually who knew, I love it. Three or four times a year, he calls and gives me the opportunity to drive the tractor, raking or baling hay.

We are TBO Cattle Company, a small cow/ calf operation. We also put up hay on our

But three or four times a year I’m called to duty. I get a call; I grab my phone and ear buds, bottle of water, gum, and a sweatshirt (for those cool evenings) and head out the door. I take the place of the first driver (that would be Donnie) and get to work. Sounds easy? Well here’s how it sometimes goes.

My first field this year I broke a shear pin and wadded up some hay under the baler.

Since I am not a mechanic and only the relief driver all I do is sit and wait for one of the guys to come and fix it. What a relief!

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Short story by Sue Tebow There are farming decisions to be made all year long to guarantee a good field of hay.

The guys work on equipment all winter to get ready for spring. Irrigation starts in March…. making sure the circles are serviced and running good, changing wheel lines and hand lines until it is time to shut off the water. Ron Then there was the time I didn’t know the makes the decision on when to start cutting, knotter wasn’t working and had what looked raking and baling. I make none of those like a pony tail dragging behind my baler. I got decisions. What a relief! a call from my husband (the boss) and was told to stop and wait for him to check out my I get to watch for wildlife (bunnies, twine problem. What a relief! chuckers, pheasants and deer). I’ve witnessed some gorgeous sunsets. I have hours to On the third field my husband (the boss) ponder life…..all while watching the monitors asked me to rake instead of bale. I’m like in the tractor and checking for wadded up “cool”. It was fun to do something else and hay. At the end of each cutting it feels good I’m just driving my tractor around thinking…… to be a part of something bigger than myself. ”Hey, did I get promoted or demoted”? I don’t I get to be a part of producing a crop of even have to know that. What a relief! hay with just the right amount of protein, moisture, potassium and ADF. The best part I watch Donnie pick up the bales with the is, I don’t have to know how those amounts.

Harobed. He skips across the field and stacks I can rely on the astuteness of my husband the hay in the stack yard as quick and neat as to make it correct. I am only the relief driver. anyone could. I am glad they don’t ask me to What a relief! learn how to do that job. What a relief!

On my second field of hay, some of my bales were missing a string. I had twine tangled up on the knotter. I stopped and waited for someone to come and look at it.

What a relief!

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Thanks!

The granT counTy fairgrounds would like To say Thank you To all The 2014 volunTeers, exhibiTors and sponsors. we appreciaTe all of The supporT by These individuals ThroughouT The years!

509.765.3581 • gcfairgrounds.com • 3953 Airway Drive NE • Moses Lake, WA •

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Continued from page from 31 often unable to leave them alone even right ‘out of the box’.

Through all of this he continued to hone his machining skills, and has moved through a series of motorcycles he artfully customized while achieving no small notoriety among motorcycle modification freaks that frequent the Custom Streetfighter scene. (www.customfighters.com) In a second offensive, Will’s cancer came back only a year and a half later, this time to be met with even more aggressive and invasive treatments. Through a renowned Seattle cancer institute, Will received an experimental form of self donated bone marrow transplants and endured much, but refused to fall into self pity or give up on his education goals. Unfortunately, because of the longterm prognosis, the Army had to exempt him from the Officer Candidate program, so Will adjusted his studies and goals while at Ellensburg’s Central Washington University.

It was in 2009, while Will was struggling to make ends meet and be able to continue college with the added stress of his medical condition, that he became connected with a unique scholarship program called Cancer for College. (www.cancerforcollege.org). This organization was started by Craig Pollard, a former college roommate and close friend of actor Will Ferrell, who is their celebrity spokesperson and a strong supporter. Every year they provide tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to current or prospective college students who are dealing with cancer. When fabricator Will was chosen as one of their recipients, it came to actor Will’s attention that his ‘namesake’ was getting an award in Seattle. Mr. Ferrell traveled a long way to be there, and the hilarious moment was captured on local television. (See the video at http://www.king5.com/ archive/60389327.html) After his days at CWU, Will focused on expanding Dogmeat Enigma as a business and his designs have been seen around central Washington and beyond, and at the annual Iron Horse Trail Motorcycle Rally he

was a regular competitor in the burnout pits. Farrell makes it clear that when designing a part he always takes into account not only the structural integrity of a piece or assembly, but also the simplicity and f lexibility of application; bolted verses welded for instance. He always maintains end result safety as the main goal, but then it has to look good too! Perhaps the nicest application of Will’s skills is that of reverse engineering and fabricating one-off replacement parts for his mom’s specialized power chair, which is of European origin and the company has been out of business for some time. He not only keeps it going, but has improved on it in some areas.

Will met his soul mate while working at an Ellensburg Starbucks, and will be married almost a year soon to Meghan, his sweet wife who also loves motorcycles and right away went and got her endorsement.

They now ride bikes together; hers a special Suzuki GSXR-750 that Will created many unique parts for making it a very special ride. Meghan is continuing her degree in the wine industry, so soon we will all know the best vintage to serve with ‘Dogmeat’.

It is deserving of praise, the excellent benefits that Starbucks offers its employees who work only part time, and this has helped greatly the Farrell’s with schooling, the business, and his treatments. With a need to expand the business, a location change that better suited his need for space and power saw him move it to Vancouver WA, where Will continues to ply his trade and hope for no more mentions of the “C” word.

Life throws us unexpected curves, sometimes more than one in a row, but we keep on riding. We are sometimes fortunate enough to meet along the way people like Will Farrell who share our passion for the ride, and who also inspire us and continue to create positive energy in spite of what they face. One thing is also for sure, I will never look at Will Ferrell or a Starbucks the same again.

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twisty roads that so many of us riders crave that can have that surprise blind corner, life sent Will into an unexpected turn that made his course a challenge “Like the

to say the least.�

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LO CAL Excellence Passing the baton

“We ended the year at full speed, winning the Grand National Title as a team. Since then, we stretched out the baton of leadership to the new captains, Allison, Baylee and Quincy, knowing they were fully up to speed in reaching out to receive it.

We know their talent, vision and dedication will lead this year’s team to a whole new level of victory. Go for it!”

2013/2014 Team Captains - Haley Sell and Jaylynn Hernandez

c u d h t

MOLAHIETTES

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Article by Mark Ellestad

Photographs by Julie Waites Photography

T

he Molahiettes Drill Team: “Mo” stands for Moses, “la” stands for Lake, “hi” stands for High school and that’s really great! –opening line of a Molahiettes chant.

The Moses Lake Molahiettes have been on a nearly unbroken winning streak for over ten years. They’ve won ten national championships and this year, for the first time, they took home the Grand National Champion title from Orlando, Florida. They’ve also been awarded more than seventeen state titles. This year was the third time the team won three categories at state – bringing home three state titles – the maximum possible. No other team in the state or history has accomplished this.

What makes this group so successful?

“It starts with Head Coach Lori Baker and the goals she sets for the team,” says Assistant Coach Peggy Earl.

Coaches Lori and Peggy start the year by crafting choreography, selecting music, and planning the schedule for the year. They are helped by their daughters, Molahiettes alumnae, who share the work of constantly revising and adapting the original routines as the season moves forward.

“Routines start out as rough drafts and get polished as they’re worked on,” says Earl. “You want it to be hard so the girls have something to reach for. We’re always thinking about what can make our routines better.”

One difficulty with drill team competition is that the outcome of a competition isn’t always consistent.

Earl--“We always tell the girls it’s not about winning.

We’re always very competitive and we shoot to win, but in a sport where the judging is subjective, you cannot lay that on anyone. It’s just not fair. Our goal is just to do our best.”

Organized sports are widely known to provide a host of benefits to participants and Drill is no different. For Coach Earl, the life skills a dancer takes away with them are invaluable. Perhaps most importantly, the high level

W

“ e had a great support system from our families who cheered us on every step of the way; we had coaches who pushed us to do more than we thought we could; and we all loved to dance. There are times when we got frustrated and felt like we had no chance, but we dug deep down and did what we knew how to do, to win. It was a team effort.” ~ Haley Sell

of commitment required for this program makes time management a necessity. “…these kids are so busy, and they have to balance so many things that by the time they get to college, balancing their schedule isn’t difficult at all. They look at college and they say, ‘I’ve got all this free time!’” said Earl.

The coaches lead by example.

“Our goal is to make very good use of our time.” Says Earl. “We’re dealing with really talented girls. They’re serious about their schoolwork. A lot of them are dancers at a studio and their time is precious. We are as prepared as we can be. We never waste time. We get in there and get it done.”

Being part of a group also teaches some valuable lessons.

Earl continues, “[The girls learn about] Not letting someone down. Trying to be a positive influence on teammates. How far you can go with hard work. There’s a million life lessons they learn along the way. They also learn to follow a strict athletic code. The code gives them a reason not to give in to peer pressure. It saves kids from making decisions that they would otherwise regret.”

Complacency and overconfidence don’t have a place in the Molahiettes.

“Every championship represents a lot of hard work and uncertainty. Every time they hand us a title we’re shocked and amazed and thrilled and grateful,” says Earl.

The coaches stress that scholastics come first and that dancers need to maintain time for family and friends outside of dance.

Earl--“Schoolwork has to come first—and family time.

As much as we care about what we do and want these girls to succeed, life is really short and we don’t want them to have to sacrifice all their family time.”

It’s clear that this program requires an enormous amount of commitment though.

T

“ he dance world is always evolving. Things keep changing and dancers are getting better and more technically advanced. You have to want to keep up. Winning is not easy, it comes with months and months of hard work. Our team never stopped working hard. We all learned to commit to teamwork, time management, collaboration and knowing we are truly capable of anything.” ~ Jaylynn Hernandez

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Coach Earl--“The Molahiettes make this look very easy. But nobody sees all the work that goes into it and nobody sees all the dedication. [If someone is interested in Drill Team] They need to find out if they love dancing.

If you don’t love it…its way too much work to get to the end product.”

Last year’s team captain Jaylynn Hernandez exemplified that commitment and love. As a senior she had been with the Molahiettes for four years. Hernandez has been dancing since she was five. According to Hernandez, in her senior year if she was not studying or sleeping, she was either practicing dance at the Today’s Generation studio, or running to maintain her fitness.

Hernandez, on why she thinks the Molahiettes have been so successful: “Our leadership. Our coaches are really tough on us when they need to be and they’re very supportive. It’s crazy how much time they put into us.”

Haley Sell, last year’s co-captain, agrees that the coaches push everyone to always do their best. For the dancers, stubborn persistence when things are tough is just as important as that external motivation. Haley says, “There were times when we all got frustrated and felt like we had no chance, but we dug deep down and remembered why we were doing what we were doing. As team leader, I had to keep the team going and I knew we had to do the best we could every time, if we wanted to win.”

For team member Kaylee Stine, success is about character and cooperation— “You have to have a good team work ethic.

If there’s a really amazing dancer next to you, you have to be willing to work hard enough to be as good as that dancer. You need to be able to take criticism in a positive way. You have to be a team player.”

Dance is more than just a brutal practice schedule and hard work though. The dancers share a special level of camaraderie born out of shared effort. Haley Sell—“The team bonding is unforgettable, and we share so many laughs. I will never forget the feeling from state, dancing in the dome, the parade of lights, the screaming parents, and awesome sweatshirts, but above that are my memories with the girls and the fun times we shared.”

For Hernandez, the best part of Drill Team? “Meeting twentysomething new best friends.”

Head Coach Lori Baker shares her thoughts on what it takes to be a winner. “DREAM BIG. Set your goals high and then do everything in your power to accomplish them. Never limit yourself.”

Coach Earl agrees.

“You can do anything you set your mind to, if you’re willing to work hard. Are you willing?”

After more than twenty championship titles it’s clear that these coaches, and these incredible young women, certainly are.

2014/2015 Captains

Allison Hyer, Quincy Wilks and Baylee Hamilton

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Big Bend Cooperative Preschool A non-profit organization

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Our program is designed to facilitate our children’s social and emotional development, gross and fine motor skills, and cognitive development. Typically, parents are in the classroom once a week and attend a business/parent education meeting once each month, as well as participating in fundraising activities. This helps us keep our tuition very reasonable, and gives us the opportunity to participate in the classroom with our children. Our motto is “Learning though Play!”. We would love to share our program with you!

Toddler Program (18mo +) 9am-11am Mon or Wed, $42/month 2-day Preschool (3 & 4 years) 9am-11am Tues and Thurs, $60/month 3-day Pre-Kindergarten (4 & 5 years) Noon-2:30 Mon, Wed and Thurs, $75/month REGISTRATION AUGUST 27, 10:30-12:30 PM & AUGUST 28, 5:30-7:30 PM *Registration $35 *2nd Child from the same family gets 1/2 off Registration and Tuition *$35 Discount for Referring New Families *Opt out Fundraising Fee Offered Contact us today to arrange a free visit for you and your child!

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Life’s PERFECT MOMENTS are now When it comes to legal matters we know you prefer simple.

That is why we handle the complicated for you.

We’ve got your back, so you have extra time to enjoy what’s right in front of you.

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Get A Job!

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Gratuitous advice from an old curmudgeon

Story / Doug Haugen

“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

--Polonius to Laertes, Hamlet Act 1 Scene 3 When Laertes was ready to jump the next boat to Paris and begin his life, Polonius had a few words of advice for him. Some tidbits, like the above, would live on in fame.

Some of the more practical stuff, like how to shop, we tend to forget. And however forgettable the rest of Polonius’s words of wisdom were, one thing that we didn’t hear him say was, “Get a job!”

Times have certainly changed since the days of the Big Bard. You don’t know how lucky you are. You live in a time in history when technology is advancing faster than you can say “I hate my iPhone.” You don’t have to remember any phone numbers other than 911 (please, don’t forget that one), and you don’t have to wade through heavy volumes of Encyclopedia Britannica to do a report on the War of 1812; you have the internet for that, probably even in your bedroom.

In his lifetime, my great grandfather saw advances in technology from the covered wagon to steam engines to automobiles to airplanes to space travel. But I’ve heard it said that there’s now more technology packed into the average smartphone than all of what was used to put the first man on the moon.

A lot has changed even since I was your age. Most notably, I now get to use the expression, “When I was your age.” And if I had a lawn, I’d probably tell you to get off of it. Technology has always promised more productivity and less toil, but even with all the gadgets and doodads you have available to you nowadays, you know what hasn’t changed? You’re still going to have to get a job someday.

To pick up where Polonius left off, I’m about to offer up some gratuitous advice. Listen up.

Life costs money To quote Ethan Hawke’s character in Before Sunrise, “Everything that’s interesting costs a little bit of money.”

You know what else costs money? Everything. If you want to eat, you’re going to need cash. If you want to do anything fun, you’re going to need great gobs of it.

You’ve probably heard the expression “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” and it’s true. American money is made

from cotton and linen, not wood pulp. But, even if money did grow on trees, you’d still have to dirty your hands in the money orchard to get any of it. Or, you could hire money-pickers and pay them with a share of the money picked—that’s management. Either way, you’re not going to get out of working for a living. You’re going to need a job.

Figuring it out Getting your diploma is a big first step, but you can’t possibly know what you’re going to do with your whole life when you’re just finishing up high school. Some people want to be heart surgeons when they’re young, and actually turn out to be heart surgeons, but I submit to you that this is merely coincidence. When I was heading off to college, I wanted to be an architect. By my second quarter, I’d declared an English major, and by the end of my first year, I was a Philosophy major. At any rate, most people don’t build a career in the field they studied in college, and the world is full of receptionists with bachelor’s degrees in Political Science.

Changes in jobs, like changes in course of study, comes with and from experience. Over time, you’ll learn what you really enjoy as you try out new things. You’ll also figure out if the thing you love will pay your phone bill. It’s possible to have a well-paying job and also do what you love, but those might not manifest in the same place. You might have to punch a clock in an uninspiring gig in order to free you up financially to do the things you really like to do. But, if you can combine the two, then you’ll have even more time with your Xbox if not your kids.

Prepare for a career If you really have a passion (and I say “passion” with all the gooeyness it invokes), and you want to make a career out of it, then you’re going to need a plan. Careers are like cats; they’re not going to come to you just because you want them to. You’re going to have to either chase them down or coax them over. Careers are also like cats in that they will never give you as much love and recognition as you think you deserve, but they can still be pretty rewarding (or so I hear).

Instead of crafting a vision board out of old magazines, glitter and a glue stick, do some research on the internet

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machine to find out the best way to navigate toward your dreams. Depending on the career, you may need more schooling, or you may need to plunge in and work your way up from the proverbial mailroom. Once you determine a path, then get out on the trail and follow it to the end. Don’t be afraid to look around while on your journey though, because you might find other trails that lead you to even better destinations. Maybe it has a better view. Maybe there are picnic tables and public restrooms. Maybe there’s a big party there with all of your favorite celebrities and ice cream! Maybe we’ve exhausted this metaphor. Just keep your eyes open for unexpected opportunities.

Have a fallback plan OK, so you have big dreams, and you’re going to pursue those dreams with the tenacity of Inspector Javert. But, sometimes those dreams are as elusive as Jean Valjean for a long time, so you’d better have a paying gig to support your coffee habit in the meantime. If you don’t get those references, read a book, would you?

Whether you plan to head off to college or run headlong into the workforce, keep your career trajectory in mind, but also be prepared to slog through a bunch of other job titles on your way to your dream job. You may do one job while you’re being educated for another. You may do one job with your eye on a series of promotions. Either way, it’s a good idea to be really good at something that you can always do while you’re trying to do something else. Like bartending your way through law school or stocking shelves while you write a business plan for your own bookstore, having the ability to fall back on a trade will give you enough security to take other risks as you reach for the stars.

Develop a skill Except for a select few, the ability to run over prostitutes with a police cruiser in Grand Theft Auto is not a marketable skill. Neither is downing Pop-Rocks and Coke injury free. You’re going to need real skills to get a job. In 2009, when the unemployment rate was 8.2% in the United States, James Surowiecki wrote on the Financial Page in The New Yorker that there were actually a metric ton of jobs available, and as many people to fill them.

However, companies were leaving those jobs unfilled until they had candidates with enough experience to perform at a high level on day one, without any need to train the newbies. According to Surowiecki, in 1979, the average young worker received two and a half weeks of training every year. Now, just 21% of employees report getting any

training at all. In many cases, if you want a job, you have to already know exactly how to do that job.

While you’ve got your eye on the prize, get as much experience as you can wherever you can get it. Your résumé is going to need more padding than Gwyneth Paltrow’s bra. Education is great, but it’s no replacement for grit. You need to be able to show that you can and want to do the job, not that you’d be interested in giving it a try.

Learn how to interview I used to participate in job fairs at local high schools, interviewing students for the sake of giving them practice, giving them feedback on their performance, and also possibly offering jobs. You know what doesn’t work?

Flirting. One young girl kept fingering her neckline and tossing compliments at me like breadcrumbs at a duck pond. “Oooh, you have such interesting handwriting!” Pass.

It also doesn’t help if you don’t know anything about the business with which you’re interviewing (even being able to pronounce it), or the job for which you’re applying.

Even if someone hates their job, they’ll want to hire people that will love theirs. No matter what job you’re interviewing for, talk about the job and the company like it’s been your dream to fill that position since you first learned the alphabet. Don’t be afraid to tell the interviewer things he or she already knows; your potential boss wants to hear what you love about the company and why you’d be a great fit. So, fool them by doing a bit of research first.

Your smile may have gotten you in the door, but your wits will land you the job. Even if it’s an entry level position you’re applying for, saying “Well, I just need a job” will never get you a job.

Learn how to learn You know why your teachers give you homework? It’s not because jobs will require you to work off the clock (though some do). It’s because getting the next job will require you to work off the clock. To get anywhere, you’re going to need to spend your personal time preparing yourself for the next stage in your career. My friend Nick is an architect, and he took it upon himself to get LEAD certified in his own time, which primed him for a promotion. My friend Dennis was a manager at Boeing, and he took it upon himself to take an Artificial Intelligence class, which allowed him to take on additional

Continued on page 73

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Prosecutor ANGUS LEE Jen Lee and their family

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Re-Elect Prosecutor ANGUS Paid for by Friends of Angus (R). Donations can be mailed to PO BOX 10, Moses Lake, WA 98837

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A Father’s Wisdom

Satire by Mark Ellestad

Dear George, Jody, my latest assistant, tells me you’ve been accepted into the Harvard MBA program. I’m glad you decided to pursue a serious profession, and turn down that ridiculous Chicago Art Institute nonsense. Now you’re on the journey I started when I was your age. I’m dictating this letter so that I can pass on some wisdom that’s served me well over my life and career.

Our work ethic, like our bank balance, defines our worth in society. It also influences the satisfaction we get out of life. It controls the experiences we have. I graduated from the Harvard MBA program more than thirty years ago. My devotion to industry has allowed me to fly over more than forty nations. I’ve seen the wonders of the world. Through the window of a taxi, I’ve seen the tip of the Eiffel tower. In Beijing I put my Blackberry down long enough to see a billboard advertising a tour to the Great Wall of China. When I was in Berlin, I shook the hand of Germany’s assistant Junior Under Secretary of the Interior.

Just think about that art program. Could it ever give you those kinds of experiences? When your friend, Richard, went to Spain for month, he couldn’t even afford a car rental. He had to backpack! Richard never even made it to Madrid.

In fact, he wasted most of his time in small towns and villages. What a shame.

Not only has my career let me see and understand the world, it’s taught me about compassion and charity. For example, I recently purchased a company that makes sneakers. The old CEO had them made right here in America, and he paid outrageous wages to his workers – more than fifteen percent above minimum wage – can you believe it? I sent those jobs to a factory in Malaysia, and because of that decision I raised the standard of living for five hundred Malaysian savages. Plus, the blue collar workers I laid off got a lesson in

economics. Some hippies say we’re exploiting those Malaysians, but I know better. I had a committee commission a study that showed almost half the villagers were only somewhat dissatisfied with their working conditions. They’ve only gone on strike a few times, and since the local police have a worldclass riot control program, it hasn’t been a problem.

On top of that, once the sneakers were rolling in, I had our marketing group put pink ribbon stickers on our packaging, with a blurb about cancer. Our sales doubled! I generously shifted a half percent of the profits on that sneaker line to a pharmaceutical company, which happens to be a subsidiary of our parent company. I’m told they do some cancer research. Or at least they’re doing a study that might lead to a research program. George, you can do so much good as a businessman. Between the money we saved with the layoffs and the cheap Malaysian labor and the cancer sale pitch, I got a seven figure bonus and was able to buy my third house. Virtue is its own reward, and business teaches that to a man.My career has also allowed me to meet amazing people.

I’ve married four wonderful women, including your mother, and those marriages have blessed me with five children. It helps that I have the resources to support my family generously through court mandated alimony payments.

Even though I’m single again, I still play an intimate role in my children’s lives. I always fly in to see my kids once per year, schedule permitting.

Do you remember your thirteenth birthday, when I flew in and gave you those stock options? Richard’s father might brag that he’s never missed his son’s birthdays, but I bet he never gave Richard two hundred shares of IBM! My working life has given me so much, George.

When my wives left me and my children refused to see me, I always had my work. Business also opens doors. After your mother left, I had an assistant

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put on a wonderful party at one of my houses. We had celebrities and politicians in attendance and we had captains of industry. I was able to briefly shake hands with so many lovely men and woman and lawyers. People are attracted to men of stature, George. They swirl around us like moths, because they see how rich our lives are. They want to emulate us, and they should.

Business is the source of that richness. Our cultural ethos enshrines hard work. Our hallow goal is to achieve success. If you follow the rules and put in the time, nothing can stop you. Some people say you should follow your own desires to find true happiness. That’s the whisper of failure, George. If you can’t find happiness through dedication to your profession, you’ve failed yourself. The American dream never fails a man, George, but a man can fail the American dream.

I often think about how close I came to failing that dream myself. When I was your age, I wanted to be a travel writer. I wanted to explore towns, cities, and villages. I imagined getting to know the people, and using those relationships to find insight into the places they lived. I’d paint with words and build worlds out of ink so a reader would feel like they were there beside me. They would smell the foods, hear the laughter, and be among friends. I wanted to make strangers who’d never heard of a place feel like they’d grown up there. Make them feel like they belonged.

I’m glad that didn’t happen. My father always told me that no amount of happiness makes up for financial insecurity. I’ve always been fearful that my children would fall into the trap that almost snared me, like Richard and his anthropology doctorate. He may claim he’s happy, but how can he be with a five figure salary? He’s a cautionary tale, George. If you had chosen that art program, your entire life’s work wouldn’t equal the monthly profits of my knock-off sneaker factory. I’d hate to see you

waste your life that way.

When I’m alone in one of my houses, I think about all those places I might have visited, and all the experiences I might have had if I’d let myself be seduced by my childish dreams. I think about the people I could have met and grown to love. I think about how they could have loved me. I think about being married to one woman and growing old with her. I think about seeing my children grow up without business getting in the way all the time.

I think about putting my family first. I think about the way things might have been. I think about it often.

Thank God I didn’t make the wrong choice when I was young. Thank God, George, that you’re not making the wrong choice either.

Regards,

George Sr.

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37TH PREMIER SEASON 2014-2015

Columbia Basin Allied Arts

Live performances held @ Wallenstien Theater

SEASON TICkETS AVAILABLE NOW!

CALL 509-793-2059

Spokane Symphony Broadway’s Next H!t Musical Tayla Lynn The Four Freshmen

OCT. 18, 2014

OCT. 25, 2014

NOV. 29, 2014

JAN. 24, 2015

FEB. 5, 2015

Spokane Symphony

Cashore Marionettes

“SnowFall” The Four Freshmen

Missoula Children’s Theater

Broadway’s Next H!t Musical

PREMIERE 7pm

GREEN TURTLE 7pm

PREMIERE 7pm

GREEN TURTLE 3pm & 7pm

PREMIERE 7pm

MAR. 14, 2015

MAR. 21, 2015

GREEN TURTLE 7pm

PREMIERE 7pm

Junie B. Jones

Tayla Lynn

Tickets available at ticket

TICkET The Bookery/Ephrata agents after September 22, 2014.

AGENTS : Artgarden Pottery & Moses Lake Chamber Information: 509.793.2059 • columbiabasinalliedarts.org

Support provided by Moses Lake & Grant County Tourism Commissions

Big Bend Wallenstien Theater COMMUNITY COLLEGE

6989 College Parkway, Moses Lake

Masquers Theatre

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Membership Event

Saturday September 6 6 pm - hors d’Oeuvres, 7pm - showtime

Masquers Celebrates 35 years

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The festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 6 in the theatre lobby with hors d’oeurves and no host bar. Season tickets and memberships will be available.

At 7:00 p.m. the show will begin. Whoa-Man At Work is this year’s theme for the Masquers Membership Gala. Skits concerning the working people throughout the ages, written by Jessica Hogge, will be performed. Come and enjoy a fun evening of song and entertainment concerning that dirty four letter word WORK. Joanne Bracht, Masquers’ Comedienne, will be part of the show.

The event will also include an unveiling of the 2014-15 season by artistic director Beverly Hasper. The Hall of Fame Award will be presented by seasoned actress and board member, Cheri Barbre. Masquers’ board of directors president Darryl Pheasant will present The coveted MOPET(Masquers Outstanding Participation & Esprit in Theatre) award.

The season will start with the musical The Pajama Game, Jessicca Hogge directed by Holli Bosnar, assisted by Eric Van Woert.

Set in the 1950s, The Pajama Game is a timeless love story of two people caught on different sides of the fence. Babe Williams, played by Stephanie Moore, is spearheading a revolt at the Sleeptite Pajama Factory, all for a whopping seven-and-a-half cent raise. Barring the way, is the new superintendent, Sid Sorokin (Jeremy Hansen), who is determined to prove he is worthy of his station by taking back control. When the two butt heads, sparks fly - in more ways than one! Come join us this fall to see if true love among the workforce can prevail!

This spirited show is directed by Holli Bosnar, with assistance from Eric Van Woert. “This is a very funny, high-energy show! It’s definitely going to put a twist on the traditional play, without losing that good old fashioned ’50s flavor. We’re going to be bursting at the seams with fun!”

OPENS: October 17!

Additional Show Dates: Friday/Saturday at 7:30 pm Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 & Nov. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15 Sunday Matinee at 2:00 pm Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16

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Red Door is happy to partner with

Community Care Project (CCP) provides help to families in need in Moses Lake. Recent projects include:

• Burst the Bug, providing school supplies to children • Food and Fuel Giveaway aiding local families • Financial help to families in the way of car repairs, rent, utility payments, house payments, etc.

• Hosting foster care family picnic • Monthly community prayer at Red Door • Many projects helping families on the Base Monetary donations to CCP or items to be consigned can be brought to Red Door, downtown Moses Lake.

If you see the orange “bug” and people in orange, it’s a CCP event taking place!

Over 400 contributors! 20+ Vendors! 5,200 Sq. Feet!

Original Artwork Antiques

Repurposed Treasures

Clothing, Jewelry & More!

The store is ever-changing. New items added daily!

Wed. – Fri. 11am-5pm Saturday 10am-5pm

Red Door consigns jewelry, antiques, home decor, art, and furniture. We also carry new furniture, home decor and jewelry. Red Door offers a whopping 5,200 square feet of one-of-a-kind treasures.

116 West Third Ave. Moses Lake, WA 509-350-5525 reddoorml@gmail.com Like us on

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I have the key to

Your

55 Buyers & Sellers in 2014!

JoyceDeLeon

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Bully Beat Down

Article/BEN ORMOND, 3-D FITNESS - CERTIFIED FITNESS TRAINER

Over the past year we have addressed many facets of fitness, nutrition, and overall health. This month I want to shift gears slightly and address an issue that you may not even realize could be affecting your health, your work environment.

It is estimated that the average person will work 90,000 hours in their life and spend approximately half of their waking adult hours at work. I am sure many of you see your colleagues more than your

Ben Ormond Certified Fitness Trainer

family, but it may be taking a greater toll than you think. If you work in a hostile or toxic work environment, it could cost you your life.

Beyond the realms of our controllable work stresses is another major issue, mental abuse. It comes in the form of work place bullying. Many psychologists are calling this the silent epidemic. One study revealed 20 million workers who reported mental abuse.

Another two studies showed 35% of working Americans suffer from mental abuse, all in the form of workplace bullying. Sadly these studies also showed that 60%-80% of employers are doing nothing about it.

Workplace bullying can also be called emotional abuse or psychological harassment.

Either way the tactics are the same; the bully intentionally and repeatedly attempts to inf lict harm to the targeted person. Not through physical violence, but through words and actions. While bullies can be found throughout the ranks, most studies revealed they typically come in the form of managers, supervisors and executives.

Unfortunately we work in a society that more often than not promotes for the wrong reasons. People are promoted because they have a special piece of paper that says they are educated, or because they are technically good at their job. However they have no clue that leadership and management are two completely different things. As the old saying goes, leadership is getting people to do what

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you want them to do because they want to, not because they have to. Unfortunately the workplace bully knows nothing about leadership and has to result to fear mongering and bullying to get their subordinates to do their job. In most cases the tactic of “Leadership by Fear” is done to cover their own incompetence and shortcomings. They don’t know how to be an actual leader.

Lisa M.S. Barrow, author of “In Darkness Light Dawns: Exposing Workplace Bullying”, says “Bullies typically possess a Type A personality; they are competitive and appear driven”.

Unfortunately they have a “tendency to become frustrated and verbally abusive when things don’t go according to plan. Impatience and temper tantrums are common for Type A individuals who haven’t engaged in the personal growth required to gain self-awareness, and maintain emotional stability”. She goes on to say, “Bullies use charm and deceit to further their own ends and seem oblivious to the trail of damage they leave behind, as long as their appetites for power and control are fulfilled.”

A study at U.C. Berkley revealed that bosses who are in over their heads are more likely to bully subordinates. Citing feelings of inadequacy trigger them to lash out at others, furthermore finding a direct link between self-perceived incompetence and aggression.

Contrary to what you may think it is not typically the “new guy” that is the target of bullying. According to research, it’s the highly competent, accomplished, and experienced employees. Those independent, seasoned workers pose the biggest threat to the bullies. Therefore when bullies find targets that refuse to be controlled and intimidated, they escalate their behavior.

This behavior is directly related to narcissistic personality disorder. Another common characteristic of the workplace bully revealed by multiple studies. Along with the typical symptoms or narcissism like everything being about them, there is defensiveness and reactive anger if they are not recognized or if they can’t get their way. If you do something the narcissist doesn’t like, they take it personal and you become a greater threat, and

their next target. So if you work for a boss that makes it all about them or claims they are responsible for putting the food on your table, you may just be working for a narcissist.

Narcissists create a toxic environment, and bullies take a horrible toll on an organization. Their actions cause increased levels of stress among employees, higher rates of absenteeism and faster rate of attrition. Studies estimate the cost of bullying at $200 million a year.

My point in all this is the greater toll you pay as the target, and that’s with your health. Exposure to this hostile work environment can wreak havoc on your mental health with varying levels of anxiety, depression, and even nightmares. Furthermore it can affect your physical health. A study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that employees were 60% more likely to suffer a heart attack or other life-threatening cardiac condition when working for these types of bosses.

If you recognize that you are subject to this torment, take a stand. Employees and organizations must not tolerate this behavior. Recognition is on the up rise. Google actually has a “No Jerk” policy, with many other corporations following their lead. A recent article in the Boston Globe stated, “that a whole new field of litigation in the U.S. is developing-”lawsuits against ‘bad bosses’ and the organizations that negligently allow them to supervise.”” At the very least look for an exit strategy, your health is much more important than a paycheck. The last thing you need to do is sacrifice your health so that some incompetent office manager can fuel their ego.

If you have a fitness or nutrition question you would like answered in Fit Facts, feel free to email me at 3DFitnessML@gmail.com or submit your question on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/3DFitnessML.

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g a r t h d a n o 4 p r o s e c u t o r. c o m Law Office of Garth Dano

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Garth Dano is highly respected for his accomplishments in Washington truck accident cases. He is a member of APITLA, a national association committed to making our country’s road safer by putting an end to unsafe and illegal practices in the trucking industry.

100 E. Broadway Moses Lake, WA 509 764-8426 Toll-free 800 521-9016 garthdano@dgalaw.com

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Create Yourself

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By Mark Ellestad

Jack Gibson is in his early 60’s, but he can do full splits and throw kicks well above head height. Jack is the owner and “Sensei” of Freewind Martial Arts.

In one form or another, Freewind, and Jack Gibson, has been in Moses Lake since the 1980s.

The current studio, on Citation road, is freshly painted and well equipped with brand new fitness gear. The lobby is ringed with photos, news clippings, and awards from the studio’s past. A poster of Bruce Lee hangs on the wall.

Jack has been involved in the martial arts his entire adult life—whether practicing at the YMCA in Wenatchee, or doing intense workouts in his home gym. Gibson on getting started--“I loved martial arts more than anything I’d ever done and I knew I wanted to do that for the rest of my life.”

That love eventually led him to open his own studio. Jack worked long hours as a delivery truck driver in Wenatchee and put money away every paycheck until he had enough to open a studio. He found a good location in Moses Lake, on Broadway.

Gibson--“We got cheap rent because we had to come out and clean out the old store. It was just tile and bare walls because I couldn’t afford much. There were heating problems every winter. The toilet would freeze and you’d

Jack Gibson

Parks and Recreation program. Without a facility of his own, Jack turned his car into a travelling studio, setting up in school gyms at the beginning of every class, then packing things up again at the end.

At its peak, the Parks and Rec program has over 150 students. Although Jack says the city was wonderful to work with, his passion drove him to re-open his “Before Freewind, I wasn’t a good person. I had a own studio again—which he ran until 2003.

I closed the studio ten years misspent youth and if I would have stayed on that path ago,Jack--“When it was hard. I had students who’d been it wouldn’t have been good. Martial arts pulled me out with me for twenty years. To suddenly have no Freewind studio in town after all that time, that of that and I owe who I am today to martial arts.” was tough. To abandon my students like that…it - Jack Gibson was devastating.”

Bringing back the studio in 2013 is one of the have to break the water on the toilet with the proudest moments in Jack’s life. Students he hadn’t seen in end of a plunger. The first studio was quite an ten years came flocking back—many with their children. adventure.”

Teaching at Freewind isn’t a job for Jack—he feels that he While running the studio and working full has to. time in Moses Lake, Jack earned an Associate’s “My students are my family and I’m obligated to degree in computer science at Big Bend them. I’m obligated to impart what martial arts gave to Community College, where he later taught. me, to them. I feel a strong sense of duty to do that,” says From there he joined the private sector as an I.T. Jack. “Martial arts isn’t about fighting to me, or even manager for some of the largest manufacturing self-defense. Those are byproducts. Martial arts is about companies in Moses Lake. improving yourself. When I see a student who’s done that, Gibson eventually closed that studio and continued Freewind as part of a Moses Lake Continued on page 73

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Continued from page 71 or when I hear from a parent that that’s happened, I feel like I’m responsible to be a better person for them. To be a good human being and not let them down. Freewind is my family.”

What martial arts has done for Jack is nothing short of life altering.

Jack--“Before Freewind, I wasn’t a good person. I had a misspent youth and if I would have stayed on that path it wouldn’t have been good. Martial arts pulled me out of that and I owe who I am today to martial arts.”

Jack originally found martial arts through the silver screen—specifically, through Bruce Lee. “I was twenty and I watched Enter the Dragon. I went in and saw this movie and I had no idea what I was in for.

The thing that hooked me on this movie, and the thing that became the tag line of the studio, was the bad guy, Master Han. Master Han was putting on a tournament, on an island and he has this one line that changed my life. He said, ‘We are unique, gentlemen, in that we create ourselves.’ That one line resonated with me and I couldn’t get it out of my head,” Jack said.

Jack continued, “As a martial artist, we create ourselves.

We carve out our future. We evolve ourselves, instead of being blown about by the wind. We don’t blame our

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parents or our environment. From that day on, I started creating myself--because I could and I realized I could. I hadn’t realized that before. Most people just float through life. But I found that I could stay on a path and carve my own direction. My entire life has been me creating myself.

My career, my education, everything about me has been created. I’m not happenstance. I’m a created individual.

With help from whatever forces might be out there, I give credit to myself. That’s what put me in martial arts.”

That self-driven evolution is evident in the Freewind’s unique style of martial arts. It starts with a traditional base of Taekwondo and adds Kenpo, Filipino stick and knife fighting, Juijutsu, and ground fighting from MMA. “Today’s Freewind is bigger and more comprehensive than the Freewind that started back in 1980,” says Jack. “It will probably be different ten years from now. It creates itself.”

I asked Jack what kind of lessons martial arts, and Freewind, has taught him.

“Never stop. Whenever I’ve been at my lowest ebb in life, and I’ve had some pretty far down downs, and when there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, you just keep going.

You keep putting one foot in front of the other. Freewind gave me that.”

Continued from page 53 projects in his company, which in turn landed him a big raise. As mentioned before, companies are looking to place candidates who have skills, and they’re not willing to pay for non-productive time—time where you’re not actually doing your job—while you learn stuff when they can get someone else who can already do that stuff. Learning how to learn, figuring out how to acquire knowledge and develop skills on your own time, is something that will help you in every aspect of your life down the road.

No matter your situation, your upbringing or your interests, you’re going to have to spend the rest of your life working hard, if for no other reason than that I need you to pay for my Social Security Benefits. You’re going to have to figure out for yourself what kind of job you want, and then you’re going to have to take it on yourself to get it.

Use every available resource you have at your disposal.

Get the education, training and experience you need for your desired field. Develop skills in something with high demand to sustain yourself while you pursue your goals.

Having a dream is a start, but to make that dream come true, you’re going to have to act, and you’re going to have to act intelligently.

You can do it. You can also get off my lawn.

V

Read this entire ­ magazine online. thevenuemag.com

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Festivals and other fun stuff to do this summer at your fingertips.

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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

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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

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

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

(509) 754-4656

info@ephratawachamber.com • www.ephratawachamber.com

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