News Briefs
Art
- Henderson in National Art Show
- Little Theater Auditons
- "Passport to Paradise" at the Liberty Theater
Business
- Achieva to Provide Marketing for Inland Cellular
- Blue Mountain Brix and Brew Festival
- Fiesta en Jalisco Opens in Former Panhandler's Building
General
- AAUW Accepting Scholarship Applications
- Broughton Land Co. and Hutchens Family Win Awards
- Building a Dog
- Dayton Schools Memorial Fund
- Grandstand Repair Moves Ahead
- Great Explorations... for Girls
- Relay for Life Kickoff Party
- Simple Steps to Wellness
- Wind Project Open Houses Scheduled
Art Briefs
Henderson in National Art Show
Dayton artist Steve Henderson's oil painting, Lilacs, was recently accepted to the 18th Annual Masterworks in Miniature Exhibition at Gallery One in Mentor, OH. Henderson has shown his artwork locally at Dayton's Wenaha Gallery for several years.
150 artists from around the nation were invited to the show, which also includes artists such as Bev Doolittle, Robert Bateman, Carl Brenders, James Christensen, Dean Morrissey, and John Weiss. The maximum size for paintings in the Masterworks in Miniature Exhibition is 9"x12", with some being small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand.
According to Alan Brown, Gallery One president, "When such top artists are ‘forced' to work small, their prices become really affordable. Collectors of limited editions often find that they can collect such miniatures for less than prints by the very same artists." Paintings in the show range in price from $350 to $5000.
The show opens on-site and online March 6, 2009, and can be viewed on the gallery's website, www.galleryone.com, beginning March 6.
Little Theater Auditions
The Little Theater of Walla Walla will hold auditions March 10th and 11th for its upcoming show, The Fantasticks. The auditions will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the theater, which is located at 1130 E. Sumach, in Walla Walla. The cast includes seven men and one woman.
The Fantasticks is a love story in which two fathers put up a wall between their houses to ensure that their children fall in love, because they know that children always do what their parents forbid. The play opened on Broadway in 1960 and ran for more than four decades, becoming the world's longest running musical.
The Little Theater's production will have a somewhat shorter run, with nine performances from April 25th through May 16th. The play will be directed by Jean Weber, along with Assistant Director Gloria Schille and Musical Director Linda
"Passport to Paradise" at the Liberty Theatre
"Passport to Paradise", this year's Variety Show at Dayton's Liberty Theater, will be presented on March 11th, 13th, 14th and 15th. Most of the acts in the show are about travel and are multicultural. The reason it's called a variety show is simple: there is so much variety.
Performing a Chinese Ribbon Dance to the song "Bbu Bu Jiao" are (L to R) Kianna Price, Hailyn Boggs, Ally Chapman, Samantha Sweetwood, Emma Bradshaw and Josilyn Fullerton.
Master of ceremonies Debbie Fortner will portray a travel agent. The acts will include a group singing in Russian, many multicultural dances and a soloist singing a song native to Argentina. In all, 84 people will take the audience through many different places: Japan, Puerto Rico, Spain, France, Africa, China, Canada, Jamaica, and even Fantasyland and Outer space! Also, back by popular demand, will be the Men's Drill Team who will be performing an Airport Security Drill.
For director Bev Startin, this will be the fifth year being in charge of the Variety Show. When asked why she chose to take up the job, she replied, "I simply noticed how much everyone in the show enjoyed performing, and how much the audience enjoyed watching the performances." She said that the founder of the show was Kyle Tarvin, and that the show was originally a fundraiser for the Liberty Theater.
Some of the performers say being in the Variety Show is like nothing they had expected and it is well worth the effort. They also encourage others to join the show next year.
Tickets are $15, $12, and $10 and are available at the Liberty Theater. Performances will be at 7:00 p.m. on March 11th and 13th, 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the 14th, and 3:00 p.m. on the 15th.
"Passport to Paradise" will definitely be a getaway for everyone.
Business Briefs
Achieva to Provide Marketing for Inland Cellular
Inland Cellular has entered into an agreement with Walla Walla's Achieva Marketing Group to provide local marketing, promotions, events, public relations and community sponsorships. Inland Cellular has provided wireless service to Southeastern Washington and North Central Idaho for over 20 years.
Business partners Michael Mettler and Betsy Hadden of Achieva Marketing Group currently serve clients in Walla Walla, Hermiston, The Dalles, Hood River and Lewiston, Idaho.
"We wanted to have more of an individual focus on the areas that we provide service to." says Denise Smith, Marketing Manager for Inland Cellular. "Partnering with Achieva Marketing Group will not only help us to market the company, but to also focus on helping us to become better community partners."
Inland Cellular's local office is located at Meadowbrook Plaza across from Wal-Mart in College Place. They are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 509-629-2900.
Blue Mountain Brix and Brew Festival
This year's Dayton Chamber of Commerce annual benefit auction – the "Blue Mountain Brix and Brew Festival" (formerly the "Shamrock Shindig") – will be held Friday March 20th at the Seneca Activity Center. The Beer and Wine Social Hour begins at 5:30 p.m., with the live auction starting at 7:00. Leonetti Cellars 2003 Columbia Valley Merlot will be served to the early birds.
The auction will feature many outstanding items, including a WSU Cougar football package, a Seattle Mariners package, golf packages and romantic getaways, original artwork, concert tickets, specialty wines and much more. Proceeds from the auction, which is the Chamber's biggest fundraiser, will finance events, advertising and operations for the Chamber throughout the year.
Admission to the Blue Mountain Brix and Brew Festival will be $25 per person, which includes a collectible wine or beer glass, food, beverages, entertainment and lots of fun. The "Private Reserve" sponsor for the event is Pacific Power. To purchase tickets, or for more information, contact the Dayton Chamber of Commerce at (509) 382-4825.
Fiesta en Jalisco Opens in Former Panhandler's Building
The Fiesta en Jalisco Mexican Restaurant in Dayton has moved from its former Cameron Street location to its new location at 400 W. Main Street. The restaurant's owners purchased the former Panhandler's Restaurant building in 2008 and completed a major renovation of the facility before opening January 30th.
Manager Adrian Martinez says the Main Street location offers much greater visibility from Highway 12 and provides good parking. The owners are also happy to now own their own building. The building now boasts a new kitchen, a new bar, new floors, a new roof and a new HVAC system.
Martinez says the response to their new restaurant facility from customers has been very positive and that all of their employees are very happy with the new building.
Fiesta en Jalisco is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
General Briefs
AAUW Accepting Scholarship Applications
The American Association of University Women is accepting applications for AAUW Scholarships. The program provides assistance to women who have completed at least one year of college and want to finish their undergraduate or post-graduate education. To qualify, there must be a break of at least one year at some time during the college education process.
Past academic performance, demonstrated community commitment and financial need of the applicants will be considered in making the awards. Applicants must be residents of Walla Walla, Columbia, or Umatilla Counties.
Applications are available online at www.aauw-wallawalla.org or from Alice MacDonald at (509) 522-5428 or amacd@charter.net; or Linda Moats at (541) 938-2471 or bmoats@q.com. Applications are due by April 16th and should be sent to Alice MacDonald, AAUW Scholarship Chair, 1429 Taumarson Road, Walla Walla. 99362. Scholarship recipients will be honored at AAUW's annual banquet on May 16th.
Broughton Land Co. and Hutchens Family Win Awards
Dayton's Dan and Krista McKinley and the Broughton Land Co. are one of two winners of the 2009 Natural Resource and Environment Award from the Columbia Conservation District. The award is given to farmers who demonstrate innovativeness, vision and leadership in striving toward the goal of sustainability of their operations while improving the environment.
he second award went to Bob and Anita Hutchens and their farm, HG Etc.
Broughton Land Co. operates a 600 cow operation with very little confined feeding, plus limited access to all streams thru the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), a 12,000 acre continuous cropping dryland farm with no summer fallow and all minimum tilled, and a 5,000 acre forest operation on Robinson Fork. After the Columbia Complex fire in 2006, the company instituted an aggressive plan to not only log salvageable lumber, but also to build a stick fence from thinned forest and initiate the planting of over 300,000 seedlings, 150,000 last year alone.
Seeking ways to increase the economic viability of their farm operation, the Hutchens became a producer of bio-fuel from crops grown on-farm. Their ultimate goal is to reduce their dependence on purchased fuel and perhaps increase economic value through off-farm sales which provides a local outlet for oil seed crops grown as part of a wheat/alternative crop rotation and an alternative to field burning. The project began with construction of a building designed to house all elements of production: the crusher, oil containment, safe room for production of bio-fuel, a testing area for experimentation, and an office. Currently the Hutchens are using a 20% fuel mix in their own equipment and selling the meal, a bi-product of the crushing process, as a quality livestock feed. They are even heating the plant with the oil.
Building A Dog
Photo by Scott KirkForty eight kids from K through 6th grade are part of Dayton's "Building A Dog" (B.A.D.) program. The B.A.D. program is a performance group specializing in basketball skills, drills and tricks. They performed during halftime of several recent Dayton Bulldog games. The program helps promote early interest in basketball and encourages development of ball handling skills, along with improvement of agility and general fitness. And it's fun!
Dayton Schools Memorial Fund
The Dayton High School class of 1958 has established a memorial fund in memory of Dayton Public Schools students who have passed away. Interest earned from the fund will be divided on a yearly basis with half going to the Dayton School system or Alumni Association and the other half to be retained in the fund for growth.
Anyone interested in donating a memorial in the name of a former student may send funds to "The Class of 58 Memorial Fund" at Banner Bank , PO Box 68, Dayton, WA 99328.
The class hopes that this fund will grow into something that will be of benefit to the local school system and students.
Grandstand Repair Moves Ahead
Initial planning for repairs to the roof of the west grandstand at the Columbia County Fairgrounds is underway. Significant structural repairs are needed so that the grandstands can be used for events this summer. Events that use the grandstands include Dayton Days, All Wheels Weekend and the Columbia County Fair.
According to Columbia County Commissioner Dick Jones, Meier Architecture and Engineering of Kennewick has been retained to do structural analysis and design for the repair work. Initial drawings have already been received by the Commissioners. All bids from contractors are due by March 16, and Jones hopes construction will begin by the end of March. Final completion and approval of the repair work is scheduled for May 5th.
Columbia County Engineer Drew Woods estimates the cost of the repairs will be approximately $65,000. Due to the urgency of the needed work, the Board of Commissioners has authorized the expenditure necessary to complete the needed repairs.
The Columbia County Fairgrounds Committee, which is headed by Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director Lisa Ronnberg, and includes representatives from all of the major users of the fairgrounds and other interested citizens, has begun a fund-raising effort to offset the costs of the immediate repairs. The committee is seeking grants and other gifts from the U.S. Government, the State of Washington, businesses and individuals. A generous donation of $10,000 has already been received from Columbia Rural Electric Association (CREA).
Jones says that, although the repairs to the west grandstand roof are a short-term fix, when they are completed, the facility should be usable for at least three more years. The Fairgrounds Committee has begun work on longer-term plans for replacement of the grandstand facilities and possible major renovation to the pavilion at the fairgrounds.
Great Explorations... for Girls
A math/science/technology conference for girls in grades five through eight will be held Saturday, March 21st, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Whitman College Campus. Twenty one hands-on workshops will be presented by area women who work in math, science and technology-related fields. Participants will choose the workshops they'd most like to attend when they register. Three workshops will be assigned on a first come first served basis.
Environmental scientist Erika Marin-Spiotta will be Keynote Speaker. Interested parents and educators are also invited to attend the conference. A parent/educator panel discussion on The Economics of Education will run concurrently with the girls' workshops.
The Conference is sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Walla Walla Public Schools, Whitman College and the YWCA. Cost is $5.00 per person. Information and registration forms can be found at www.aauw-wallawalla.org. Or, for more information, contact Jeanne at (509) 525-7401, jbeirne@my180.net or Carol at (509) 525-3531, pcmorgan@charter.net or Micki Varney (509) 382-1354 chinook_salmon@yahoo.com. The last day for pre-registration is March 16.
Relay for Life Kickoff Party
The Kickoff Party for the 2009 Relay for Life will be March 24th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Seneca Activity Center. This year's Relay for Life event, benefiting the American Cancer Society, will be held September 19th and 20th at the Dayton High School track. The theme will be "Ropin' a Cure".
Anyone who was involved in last year's Relay for Life or is interested in participating this year is invited to attend the kickoff party. A PowerPoint presentation about last year's relay will be shown and teams will be signed up for this year. Entertainment and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Delphine Bailey at (509) 520-1756.
Simple Steps to Wellness
A weekly class called Simple Steps to Wellness will be held each Monday from March 16th through May 18th in the Delany room at the Dayton Memorial Library. Class sessions will begin at 6:00 p.m. The motto for the class is "Healthy by Choice, not by Chance".
Each session will feature food samples and demonstrations, a short lecture by a health educator, an exercise break, door prizes and recipes. Guest lecturers include Jody Martin, R.D., Columbia County Health System; Sheila Zangar, MSW, private counselor; Rusty Hottal, Physical Therapist, Walla Walla General Hospital (WWGH); Stan Ledington, DrPH, Wellness Director, WWGH; Daniel Ngaruiya, MSW, Family Education, WSP; and Adina Pearson, R.D., Eat Smart Nutrition.
Topics in the series will include ways to cut your risk of cancer and other diseases, tips for nutritious quick meals that save big bucks, ways to strengthen your immune system and enhance natural healing, how to improve sleep and secrets for weight control. Participants will also learn to read labels, alter recipes and plan a menu.
The Simple Steps to Wellness class is sponsored by the Dayton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Cost is $20 and class size is limited. To register, send a check or money order to SDA Church, P.O. Box 73, Dayton WA 99328. For more information call (509) 386-8175.
Wind Project Open Houses Scheduled
Open houses will be held in Dayton and Pomeroy in early March to provide information and obtain public input regarding the proposed Lower Snake River Wind Energy Project. The Pomeroy open house will be March 4 at Pomeroy High School, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Dayton open house will be held March 5 at the Seneca Activity Center, also from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES) are in a joint venture to develop the new wind project. The project will be located in areas in both Columbia and Garfield Counties. The companies have submitted an application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in Garfield County, to cover the project areas located in that county. They anticipate submitting a CUP application in Columbia County before the end of 2009.
As part of the permitting process in both counties, PSE and RES will conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Garfield County Planning Department will be the lead agency overseeing the EIS, working closely with the Columbia County Planning Department. Ecology and Environment, Inc., of Seattle, will be the environmental consultant for the EIS process.
The public is invited to attend either of the open houses. Representatives from the two counties, the developers and the environmental consultant will be available to provide information and answer questions on the environmental scoping process and the project itself.