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Good Morning it’s Saturday January 16th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  Today - Wenatchee senior point guard Garrett Long is excited to lead Wenatchee basketball. This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Also, as the pandemic, civil unrest and dark winter days continue into the new year, Wenatchee Valley residents are reporting more feelings of anxiety, sadness, isolation and discouragement. That’s why we at The Wenatchee World and NABUR have organized a free, interactive mental health panel. Join us on Thursday January 21st from 6 to 8pm, and make sure to RSVP at wwrld.us/mentalhealthpanel. Now our feature story. Wenatchee senior point guard Garrett Long has a routine. One he’s kept even before the COVID-19 started in March. And it’s one he’s maintained throughout the pandemic, even with a lack of resources. His motivation? Distinguishing himself apart from every other 6-foot-2 point guard in the state.  In an interview Long said that even before COVID-19, he was getting up at 6 a.m. every morning to get 200 to 300 shots up. Whenever he would wake up he would just think to himself -- how can I separate myself from others. He says, getting up consistently, it’s all mental. The hardest part is just getting out of bed; everything else is easier from there. According to Long there are hundreds of thousands of 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2 guards; the biggest difference is they don’t all have the same work ethic. After his early morning jumpers, Long works on his conditioning, jumping rope or running. In the spring and summer, he runs sandhills off the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail before the mid-morning heat sets in. Then, he lifts weights in the afternoon before heading to the Wenatchee Valley College Community Court in the evening night for ball handling drills or pickup games. Once gyms were allowed to reopen in the fall, Long would hit the WRAC twice a day to work on his shot and workout — training lower body in the morning and upper body at night. When he can’t find a court, Long trudges out into his family’s garage with a pair of weathered basketballs and works on two-ball drills, bouncing each one at varying heights before crossing over or weaving one between the legs. Even with the basketball season still on hold, Long wants to leave Wenatchee knowing he gave all he could. While state basketball had just wrapped up when the pandemic hit last March, one major impact for basketball players was the loss of the summer AAU season, which provides the greatest opportunity to get in front of college eyes. Long plays for the AAU team Friend of Hoop, but wasn’t able to play in any tournaments until the early fall. But he has received some interest from a few schools, including Seattle Pacific, Air Force, Army and Eastern Washington. He is hoping to land a D1 offer. While he’s still undecided at the moment, he said he plans to figure it out over the next few months. Long is flying to Arizona later this month to play with BFL Prep (based in Seattle) for a two-week tournament called The Grind Sessions in Phoenix. But of course, like any senior, Long would prefer to finish out his high school career playing for the purple and gold.  He said that if there is a senior season, he’s looking forward to leading the guys, and he’d really like to get to the Tacoma Dome. Though the chance of games being held at the Tacoma Dome is fairly slim at this point, a regional win would feel good nonetheless in what has been the most bizarre year for sports. Now, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients.  Jess Tyrrell is a Registered dietitian at Confluence Health. She struggled with obesity during her teens and 20s before making a choice 14 years ago to live a healthier lifestyle. She lost 130 pounds over six years and, in the process, found her true passion. She enrolled at Wenatchee Valley College in 2011 before transferring to Central Washington University in 2014 to complete her bachelor’s degree in food science and nutrition. She went on — commuting to CWU all the while — to earn a master’s degree in 2019. She joined Confluence Health in 2017, where she is the wellness and outpatient dietitian, helping patients with weight management and eating disorders. She also serves as the dietitian for the employees, which includes helping create wellness meals served at the cafeteria and bistro, running the weight loss support group and teaching nutrition classes. Tyrrell said she is proud of the life she has created for herself and feels lucky every day that she is living out her dreams. Growing up in a family full of substance abuse and poverty. Tyrrell was not taught that education was important and almost didn’t graduate high school.  Now, she connects to my patients and peers because she has truly walked a mile in their shoes. She said that her own journey has taught her to be strong and resilient and it is always a good reminder to never stop chasing the things she wants most in life. Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur Wenatchee Valley College opened as a private institution in 1939 as a result of donations from 51 local citizens. Two years later, it became part of the state's public education system.  Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday January 14th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  Today --- the Wild Wenatchee Swimmers are feeling cold-water benefits Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. (same message all week)  Also, as the pandemic, civil unrest and dark winter days continue into the new year, Wenatchee Valley residents are reporting more feelings of anxiety, sadness, isolation and discouragement. That’s why we at The Wenatchee World and NABUR have organized a free, interactive mental health panel. Join us on Thursday January 21st from 6 to 8pm, and make sure to RSVP at wwrld.us/mentalhealthpanel. The water temperature is 44 degrees. The air temperature is 43. There is snow on the foothills. Five people are walking across a sandbar that juts into the Columbia River off Walla Walla Point Park. Swimmers. It’s the first winter dip for two of the swimmers. One of them is Sheila Borden, a 44-year-old Wenatchee woman. Sheila is nervous, she doesn’t really like being cold. A big, furry hat tops off her full-body wetsuit.  13 year old Marieka Campbell shivers and says “I’m so cold; I hate doing this but my mom says it’s good for you.” The other three are veterans. 50 year old Sarah Applegate, Marieka’s mother, heads into a crawl stroke and says - this is awesome. Back in October 70 year old Charlene Woodward started a Facebook group. It’s called Wild Wenatchee Swimmers. Right now, membership is at about 45 people with 12 active members. Many of them swim at 11 a.m. every Saturday at the sandbar; while others take dips in the river off Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park and Lincoln Rock State Park during the week. Woodward, after offering encouragement to all, heads right in and starts a 10-minute swim parallel to the beach with another veteran, Kathy Gavin. Woodward grew up as a competitive swimmer and went on to coach and teach swimming. She and her husband own Dogwise, a mail-order bookseller and publisher of books on dogs.  She says that this is ridiculous that we are doing this, but, for her, it’s something to do during the pandemic that is safe. They wear masks until they get to the river and they don’t get close together. Woodward has read about the health benefits of cold-water swimming and feels she experiences them. Afterwards she feels energized, and it lasts pretty well all day. Her tip for beginners? Stay in for less time than you think you can. This is not an endurance contest; it’s not a macho thing. Get out and dry off and warm up as soon as possible.   And stick with it. She said she’s 70 and she hopes that she’s doing this until she’s 90. Kelly Anderson, another regular swimmer, always wanted to try a polar bear plunge but kept chickening out. Anderson describes herself as a person who hates cold water - so to her, this felt like a big personal challenge. When a friend showed her the Wild Wenatchee Swimmers Facebook page, she was intrigued. And when she showed up in the parking lot for her first swim, she felt super-supported by these strangers! Anderson is a cancer survivor and also suffers from nerve problems, a bad back and chronic depression. After about a week with the Wild Wenatchee Swimmers, she said that she was down to 70% reduced pain in my back, hips and neck. Then, she started having pain-free days. She even texted a friend and said she just felt so happy for no apparent reason, and can only say that’s the swimming! Now, Few are brave enough to fly 10,000 feet in the air, and parachute jump out into an unknown forest only to touch land and fight a raging forest fire.  For longtime Wenatchee resident and author Gene Jessup, it was just another day on the job. Jessup was a smokejumper for the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in the late 1950s and ‘60s.  A smokejumper is a trained firefighter who provides rapid fire response by parachuting to the source of the fire, usually in the high mountains. Now at age 82, he reminisces on the adventures, dangers and camaraderie of the job in his new book, “Between Heaven and Earth: The Adventures of a Smokejumper.”  The book is available online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon - there’s also a Kindle edition. The Wenatchee World spoke to Jessup about the occupation, having his brother as a jump partner and his novel. When we asked what a jump feels like and he said that since smokejumping training is so extensive at a certain point, after two or three weeks, everything starts to become automatic. You climb in the airplane, you go up for your first jump, you’re sitting at the doorway, and you’re looking out at the horizon and you’re almost numb. You can’t remember what day it is or what you had for breakfast or anything else. When the slap on the back comes, you just automatically step right out of the airplane. In a few seconds you’re hanging in the air wondering. ‘How the hell in the world did I get here?’ Then, when you land after that first jump, you say, ‘Aw man, that was the greatest thrill in the world. I can’t wait to do this again.’ We also asked Jessup about the camaraderie amongst him and other smokejumpers. He told us that they’re very, very close with. His brother was his jump partner in ‘59 and ‘60 and that created a very special bond between them. To read our full interview with Jessup, visit us at wenatcheeworld.com. Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur The Tyee creek fire was one of the largest fires in North Central Washington. In July and August of 1994 it burned for 33 days and it destroyed 35 homes.  Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday January 12th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  Today - We’re focused on the U.S. Capitol insurrection, and how local officials, teachers, and law enforcement has responded. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Also, as the pandemic, civil unrest and dark winter days continue into the new year, Wenatchee Valley residents are reporting more feelings of anxiety, sadness, isolation and discouragement. That’s why we at The Wenatchee World and NABUR have organized a free, interactive mental health panel. Join us on Thursday January 21st from 6 to 8pm, and make sure to RSVP at wwrld.us/mentalhealthpanel. Now our feature story… Last week, supporters of President Donald Trump gathered outside the Capitol Building to protest as Congress took up the confirmation of Joe Biden as the next president. The demonstration spilled into the Capitol and devolved into a riot. Four people died during the chaos. Here are some of the reactions from Wenatchee residents. Wednesday’s polarizing events will be looked at and studied by college students and historians for decades. It was a moment unlike any other in our nation’s history. But if you’re a high school history teacher, how do you talk about the event with students? As a rule of thumb, teachers aren’t supposed to — and largely don’t — express their personal opinions on political matters with students. It’s a faux pas that can lead to a phone call from an angry parent and a dressing down from an administrator.  As rioters scaled walls, overran Capitol police, stormed Congress, smashed windows and planted explosives, it was lunchtime at Wenatchee High School. The social studies teachers watched everything unfold. Emily Wilson, a fifth-year world history and leadership teacher told us that it’s super hard to even talk about what’s going on, but her approach was to let students take the lead in discussions. She said some students understood the significance of what was going on and wanted to talk for nearly an hour, while others felt exhausted and just wanted to get on with class. Brandon Harle, who teaches current world problems at Wenatchee, said he recognizes his role is to be someone that facilitates information. He tries to provide facts that can add some sense to the issues, not to offer his opinions. Harle said this was his fifth presidential election he’s gone through as a social studies teacher. And the 2020 election, with all its bluster and misinformation, has been the most difficult to cover. Local elected officials struck a note of optimism after the insurrection, even while expressing horror at the event itself. Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz said it was disturbing to watch the day’s events on TV. But he had faith that things would return to normal. He said that in a lot of ways it felt no different than 9/11, where we were attacked and the next day we were back in business again. Kuntz said he doesn’t expect it to be easy to resolve the divide going forward, but that the US will manage. And finally, Chelan County Commissioner Bob Bugert said that he was also deeply disturbed by the incident. In his eyes, the nation’s sacred trust has been violated by President Donald Trump inciting these acts of violence. He also noted that local protests against the certification of President-elect Joe Biden have been peaceful, and that he supports their right to protest even if he disagrees with their message. Finally, Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett said the riot has brought trepidation. He said that we closed out 2020 hoping for better times — what is 2021 going to bring us? Uncertainty. It puts fear in people’s minds and I think that’s what’s bad. Burnett, a Republican elected in 2010, believes most who attended the rally were likely there with the intent to assemble peacefully.  When asked where the line is between peaceful protest and riot, he said it essentially begins when laws are broken. To Burnett, it’s clear the demonstration became a riot.  And that riot in the epicenter of American democracy has sent shockwaves, to the public and law enforcement. Next, A winning Lotto ticket worth $1.7 million and purchased in East Wenatchee was claimed on Monday — just a week before it would have expired! The ticket was sold on July 15 at Fred Meyer and its buyer, as with all winners, given 180 days to claim his or her prize. A spokesman for the lottery said that it’s not often a seven-figure winner goes unclaimed for so long. Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur The Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center was founded in 1939 by the Columbia River Archaeological Society. It’s home to the propeller from Miss Veedol, the airplane that made the first nonstop trans-Pacific flight.  Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday January 9th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  Today - The Chelan County Commissioner England signs off after 12 years This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Now our feature story. After 12 years, Chelan County Commissioner Doug England will get to enjoy retirement. England signed off as a commissioner after a recent meeting, handing off the position of chair to Commissioner Bob Bugert. Bugert and Commissioner Kevin Overbay thanked England for his years of service. Bugert said that he has tremendous respect for England and how he’s been a leader of the Chelan County Commission over the last 12 years. And Overbay thanked him for showing him the ropes the last four years as a commissioner. He noted that England was gracious even in his disagreements. England thanked the commissioners for their work and said all five commissioners he worked with showed honor and integrity. He said he didn’t think there should be a limit on how many times a commissioner could run for office, but that politicians should leave when it is time. England said that [quote] “they change politicians and diapers for the same reason and I think three terms is enough and I think it is time for someone else to step in and take care of it” With England’s retirement there are no more orchardists or agricultural industry employees on the Chelan County Commission. Overbay worked for the Washington State Patrol, Bugert for the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust and on the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and incoming Commissioner Tiffany Gering for the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce. Overbay is now the longest serving commissioner that oversees Chelan County government, land planning and budgets. State Representative Keith Goehner served with England for about 10 years. Goehner said he enjoyed working with England who he said brought a lot of experience from his years as an orchardist and from just looking at the bigger picture. Goehner said he was impressed by England’s work to get the Stehekin Road fixed that washed out several years ago. At the time, England went to Washington, D.C. frequently and talked to many people in an effort to resolve that problem. And though the road is still damaged, the environmental review process is underway for fixing it. Chelan County’s reserve has also grown to about $13 million during England’s time. He also pushed for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to abandon efforts to transplant grizzly bears in the North Cascades. Some of his other accomplishments include starting the short-term rental regulation process, passing zoning regulations on cannabis producers, developing a Shoreline Master Plan Program, guiding improvements for the Chelan County Regional Justice Center, and overseeing changes in local mental health treatment. Now, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients. 29 year old Xochitl Velazquez is the Assistant director at the Washington Apple Education Foundation. After graduating from Eastmont High School and Wenatchee Valley College in 2009, Velazquez went on to attend Gonzaga University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 2012, and the following year earned a master of business administration degree.  About four years ago she accepted a job as a lender at Cashmere Valley Bank, a move that allowed her to return to the Wenatchee Valley to be closer to family. Once here, she got involved in the community, joining the board of the NCW Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and stepping up her volunteer efforts with the Washington Apple Education Foundation. And then in September 2019, she accepted the post of assistant director at the WAEF.  Her focus is now on coordinating events for current college scholarship recipients and working with volunteers. This spring, she adapted WAEF events to move from in-person to virtual settings to help make sure students did not get behind on their education dreams and career goals despite the challenges of the pandemic. For Velasquez, being a successful and accomplished individual is her way of giving back to her family for their continuous love and support. Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur Susan Hart was born in Wenatchee, and became a well known actress in the 1960’s. She starred in movies like Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, City in the Sea, and The Wild Wild West.  Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday January 7th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  Today, -- The Riverfront Village Apartments could be the largest single housing complex in Wenatchee. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Now our feature story… If completed, the Riverfront Village Apartments would be the largest single housing complex in Wenatchee. Recently, the developer behind the project applied for building permits. This brought the complex one step closer to life. It set the stage for the next chapter of Wenatchee’s downtown waterfront development. The project would include over 400 units spread across five buildings standing five stories tall. They would be located on the corner of North Worthen and Fifth streets. The developer is Redmond-based Anandacom LLC, a commercial real estate company that builds and manages residential and retail projects. The only active project listed on their is Wenatchee’s, which it says will [quote] “set a new standard for the city.” The complex was first proposed in January 2020. Since then, the developers have been working with the city to adapt their plans in preparation for permit applications.  The layout has changed slightly, but the overall scope of the project is very similar to the original plan - which includes a recreation building, a pool and over 500 parking spaces. The permit applications are now under review with city planners, and once that’s complete, the general public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal. But according to Community Development Director Glen DeVries a timeline of when construction may start or end is not yet clear. If approved and completed as planned, it would offer almost exactly the same number of units as the Riverside 9 and 600 Riverside apartments combined. Those two complexes, which are owned by Kirkland-based Weidner Apartment Homes, are just a quarter-mile away from this project. The project site is currently owned by Lineage Logistics, a fruit storage company that decided to sell its two main campuses in Wenatchee. Their southern campus, on the corner of Orondo and Columbia streets, was purchased by the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority last year. The port is now dividing up the property and selling the pieces for private redevelopment. That was Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority Commissioner Rory Turner during a meeting last year talking about the Lineage Logistics property. This northern property is tucked between Riverfront Park to the east and the BNSF Railway tracks to the west. The property has drawn extra attention due to its proximity to the current Chelan County PUD headquarters. After the PUD moves into its new consolidated headquarters in Olds Station in a few years, the existing campus will be redeveloped. Planning for that process is underway now but no concrete plans for the property have been decided. Stay up to date on this story and more by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com Now, this year gave us a lot of TV to watch and far too much time to spend watching it. From Tiger King to Baby Yoda, 2020 will not be forgotten. Here at the Wenatchee World we are experts at enjoying a good show. And, we’re excited to share these wonderful discoveries. Oscar Rodriguez, our staff writer recommends the Queen's Gambit. He says that it shows that chess is not only a highly competitive, personality-driven sport but also an excellent vehicle for a compelling drama.  Luke Hollister, our Staff writer, videographer recommends...‘Sex Education’- he says it’s Shakespeare meets postmodern aliens with tentacles: what’s not to like? Hollister’s other favorite? ‘The Mandalorian’ Give it a watch, your eyes will be happy. Madeline Happold our Journalist product manager enjoyed the Code Orange livestream. One of the first band’s on Happold’s radar to turn to livestream was this Pittsburgh-based hardcore band. The band enlisted the help of a videographer to pull off a Matrix-esque, cyberpunk live stream. And finally, Russ Hemphill, our Managing editor enjoyed watching a good interview. “Hot Ones” is one of his favorites. Great questions for celebrity guests as they eat wings covered with increasingly hot sauces.  For the full list of our favorites visit our website. Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR  – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur For thousands of years before Euro-American settlement, the Wenatchee Valley area was inhabited by indigenous people who lived on the land. The Wenatchi were a nomadic culture and they were closely bound to nature.  Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday January 5th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.    Today - How the hospitality industry has been affected by the pandemic, and how they’re coping.   Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.   Now our feature story…   It doesn’t take an industry expert to deduce that our hospitality industry has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.   With all travel ill-advised, indoor service at restaurants barred, and events canceled - hospitality has inevitably been impacted.   The question is, by how much?   For restaurants and hotels around the state, the economic harm has been staggering.   The Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a roundtable for members in the hospitality industry.    According to the Washington Hospitality Association or WHA, over 100,000 jobs in the industry have been lost. They predict a 45% permanent restaurant closure rate across the state.    And a survey done by the American Hotel and Lodging Association found that almost half of lodging properties will go into foreclosure.    Leavenworth's tax receipts show business experienced dramatic drops early on — a 76% drop in March, 97% in April and 53% in May.    Chelan, however, is the outlier.    Chelan is above 2019 dollars by 1% — through the first nine months of the year.   That’s mainly because of the tourism swell from June through September — to which anyone who visited the lake town over the summer can attest.   The city was packed to the gills with Seattleites, out-of-towners and local Wenatchee folks looking to escape the mundane for the campgrounds, vineyards and Lake Chelan.   But a busy summer didn’t necessarily outweigh the hotel/motel tax revenue drops were stark in March, April, and May.   While Campbell’s Resort and Midtowner Motel President Tom Campbell conceded that they had a good summer, overall the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to his business.   He said that the net effect on their business has been nothing short of a disaster for us and the industry.   Aside from the summer tourism, Campbell said a lot of their room bookings come from conferences, events and government meetings.   Leavenworth, which is also known as a resort location, is in the same boat. Even without a Christmas Lighting Festival this year, people are still coming to Leavenworth.   On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wenatchee has been down in lodging tax dollars all year. Even in the two months prior to COVID-19 Wenatchee was below 2019 revenues by about 17%.    Jerri Barkley, the marketing director at Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce said that the average daily rate of a room has dropped by almost $30 and only 54% of rooms rented.   While Barkley said she hasn’t tried to predict whether certain hotels would close, what makes her nervous heading into 2021 is the fact that three more properties are already under construction and planning to open - adding 300 hotel rooms to the inventory.   And conventions - Wenatchee area hotels' bread-and-butter - are still a question mark heading into 2021.   Freyda Stephens, general manager at the Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel, said they’re not anticipating bigger meetings until late 2021 or 2022.   Steve Tramp, the owner of the Wenatchee Comfort Suites and Quality Inn said he’s been running about 50% of the business they did last year.   So, why open a hotel now?   Tramp admitted that you might say it’s crazy now, but they have the building, they have the permit, and there is no better time to learn than during the slow season.   Tramp expressed optimism though when looking ahead, he’s a glass-half-full kind of guy.   Tramp said that despite everything, there is some good stuff too. We have a tendency to look at the things that don’t appeal to us and miss the positive things.   Next, a virtual event is coming up where actors will portray formative women from Wenatchee's past.   Actors will be dressing as formative and influential women from Wenatchee’s past at a Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center program on Thursday the 7th.    The virtual People of Our Past event is a continuation of the museum’s series on women’s suffrage, celebrating the female voice.   Amy Edwards will play the role of Elsie Parrish, a chambermaid who sued the Cascadian Hotel for unpaid wages and helped to create a minimum age for women after taking her case to the Supreme Court.   Kristy Clare will play as Wenatchee’s first female doctor, Katie Renggli as the first female attorney of the Chelan County Bar Association and Julie Kuntz as an influential local educator.   Each session of the virtual event will feature a video about one of the local historical figures.   The event will take place at noon on January 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. You can make reservations at wwrld.us/wenatcheewomen or by calling 888-6240.   In 1906 a man named Andy Gossman came to Wenatchee from Minnesota. He set up the C&O Nursery, supplying fruit trees to growers planting orchards. That year 60 carloads of fruit, mainly apples, were shipped out of the Wenatchee Valley.   Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.   The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday January 2nd, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today - Wenatchee’s Conner Faulkner on Breaking into the L.A. rap scene. This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Now our feature story. For 25 year old Conner Faulkner his hometown is Wenatchee, but he moved to LA to follow his career goals. Now, he’s professionally known as Dyve. The first step on his continuing journey to fame: Sleeping in a car for three months. Faulkner said that the biggest challenge for artists is the uncertainty. There were some nights during his tour when he was really cold and would wear three hoodies. But the experience helped him to build a fanbase and learn how to sell his music. His most recent success came after he released the single “That’s My S***” in July. He has amassed over 700,000 Spotify streams since its release. Part of the song’s popularity is due to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson sharing Faulkner’s new jam on his Instagram, which has 205 million followers.  Right now, there are roughly 25,000 people who now have a Dyve song on their playlists. The Rock is one of them.  For Faulkner, breaking into the L.A. music scene is difficult but very guiding. There are so many people there creating music and every new artist is an opportunity to learn or collaborate with. He says that the difference between L.A. and North Central Washington is the amount of people and how much is going on. Every other person in L.A. is in the music industry, or so it seems, and there are shows on a nightly basis. But Faulkner does still appreciate his hometown roots, and thinks Wenatchee is one of the best places in the world. From a young age, he has always loved music and participated in various musicals while growing up in Wenatchee. It took a good four or five years of learning how to sing in choir until mom stopped cringing at missed notes. As a college graduation present, Faulkner’s parents bought him a laptop with Logic Pro music software for producing songs. That’s when he started learning how to mix, master, record and “do everything.” One of Faulkner’s most life-changing moments as a developing artist was in 2017, after he finished a show in Walla Walla and saw, for the first time, that he had followers. A pair of 11-year-olds came up and said how they were the biggest fans of his music. You can find Faulkner’s music on various streaming sites including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and Google Play. And make sure to stick around to hear his song Another Step at the end of our episode! Now, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients. Today, we’re highlighting John Wasniewski, an Energy analyst at the Chelan County PUD. Wasniewski has been an energy analyst for Chelan County PUD since the summer of 2017. His coworkers describe him as “conscientious” — working diligently to find a need and fill it, no matter whether it’s small, large or highly technical. And, according to reports, he does it with a smile on his face. Wasniewski graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2011, and received the General Donald R. Keith Memorial Award as the top graduate. While at West Point, he also played Division 1 football. After graduation, he served as an officer for more than five years, which included duty stations all over the world.  He switched to the private sector in 2016, moving to Wenatchee, where his wife was born and raised.  He is currently working on his master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Washington State University. His anticipated graduation is next fall. He and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed their first child in July. Wasniewski says that he’s always held himself to a high standard. And as he’s had success, that standard has only become higher. Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur With the railroad, came an alarming increase in drunkenness, disorderly behavior, and crime. A shacktown developed beside the Columbia River, and in 1908, Mayor John Gellatly even issued an ineffective order that all prostitutes leave the city or reform. Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com   The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday! Now, as promised, Dyve.Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday December 31st, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, -- A federal agency has listed the monarch butterfly as warranting protection, but will not classify it as threatened or endangered yet. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Now our feature story… A federal agency has listed the monarch butterfly as warranting protection - not as threatened or endangered. Why? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has higher priority species it must first divert resources to.  That was Tierra Curry, Senior Scientist from the Center for Biological Diversity. Like Curry said, just because they’re not listed as endangered, the species does need help and it’s facing threats to its continued existence. According to Taylor Cotten, who is the state Department of Fish and Wildlife conservation assessment section manager, Washington state is pretty far north for monarch butterflies, but the state actually has its own unique population. Cotten said that we used to have a lot of them. We don’t have that many right now. Because of the population decline we’re not seeing the numbers returning to Washington annually as we used to. Dr. Alan Eugene Launer, the Associate Director of Conservation at Stanford University has spoken up about the dangers of a declining population. The monarchs in Washington spend winters in California. And these monarchs specifically are more in danger than the majority of the species, which typically spend winter in Mexico. But unfortunately, these monarchs aren’t classified differently to the US Fish and Wildlife Services. Cotten explained that The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is not allowed to give different classifications for separate populations or subspecies of invertebrates like butterflies. It can only do that for vertebrates, like mammals.  What does that mean? That either all of the monarch butterflies in the U.S. are listed as endangered, or none of them. The species depends on a plant called milkweed for food and habitat to reproduce. They grow at elevations lower than 2,000 feet and in drainages where there is good access to water. And along the Columbia River, along Highway 97, milkweed often grows along road edges according to Ann Potter, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife insect conservation specialist. Luckily, Potter said that people have actually been doing a pretty good job of planting milkweed in their backyards, in fact, a lot of agencies are planting milkweed as part of their restoration strategies. But the biggest impact to monarch butterflies is the loss of the trees in California - where the Monarchs spend their winter. Monarchs return to those same trees year after year. Now, we’d like to take a moment to congratulate Quincy native Luke Grigg who recently won a major internet award! For someone who didn't grow up wanting to be a filmmaker, Luke Grigg has done pretty well for himself. This month, the 26-year-old Quincy native will be receiving a Webbie — the Internet's equivalent of the Oscars — for a short film he made about how the residents of one village in central Kenya are coping with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Grigg and his company, Circle3Productions, make videos for non-profits. His award winning video is called "Our Children — Twana Twitu"  Grigg said the charity's work struck a chord with him. And that it's work reminded him of Bible stories in which those who have little share with those who have even less. And now, Grigg has been thrust into the spotlight, winning a competition against some heavy competitors that include major studies and public relations firms. Grigg said that It's been a crazy whirlwind.  Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR  – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur In 1908 a bridge was built to transport the Highline Canal water across the Columbia River. The bridge also allowed vehicles to travel across. It was the first of it’s kind on the Columbia River within the United States. Now, it’s part of the Apple Capital Loop Trail and is used often by hikers and cyclists.  Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday December 29th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today - a historical look at the Columbia River’s local influence. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Now our feature story… If you had been standing on the banks of the Columbia River in the Wenatchee area some 100 years ago, the view would’ve been much different from today. The currents and the shoreline in those days meandered in different locations than it does now.  Had you been here a thousand years ago you would’ve watched the native tribes conducting their daily lives and on occasion, holding multi tribal gatherings with thousands of participants.  The Columbia River was the connector. For traders and travelers too. And in 1811 a man named David Thompson led a crew of explorers along the Wenatchee River to the Delta where it meets the Columbia river. There, the Thompson party encountered a hesitant group of horsemen of the Sinkowarsin tribe and, after a lengthy session of pipe smoking, the Thompson crew followed the horsemen to their village near the Rock Island rapids. The visit went well. And in the evening, the explorers moved on. At the time, the Rock Island rapids at the time were notorious for being rough and nearly impassable. But the local tribes found the location good for fishing.  But these days, the strong currents are controlled by the Rock Island Dam which began operating in 1933. One concern with the Rock Island Dam construction was the preservation of the hundreds of petroglyphs at the site. Luckily, as many as 140 of the petroglyphs have been preserved in the form of photographs and drawings. You can still see them on display at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center.  Unfortunately some locations were not preserved when the dam was built; the river delta lost much of its landmass when the water rose higher. In fact, the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers, now known as the Horan Wetlands and Wildlife Area, looks nothing like before the dam. Since 1930, the confluence delta has submerged by 37%.  Another change - the pipeline bridge running between Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. It was completed in 1908. Not only did it carry water across the river, but people as well. Soon the ferries were no longer needed.  Even more important than bridges, was the railway - which reached Wenatchee in 1892. The ease of railroad transportation gradually won over the slow and hazardous river travel - and by 1915 the sternwheelers had served their purpose.  The Columbia River keeps on serving the Wenatchee area as a natural resource. The present day expeditions are done by fishermen and kayakers on leisurely outings. And one thing remains unchanged: the eagles still find their food in the currents like they always have. Next, you may not be traveling too much these days, but we have great ideas for day trips you can take this winter season!  Okanogan isn’t known for being very populous, but what it lacks in residents it makes up for in wide open land. With quaint towns and breathtaking landscapes, the county is the perfect place to get out and explore! Whether you’re a history buff, golf enthusiast, fisher, skier, or shopaholic, there’s something for you. Sitzmark Ski Area has 80 acres of terrain for all skill levels, they even offer snowmobiling. Then there’s Omak, the shopping heart of the Okanogan Valley, with big box stores and restaurants. IT’s also home to the 12 Tribes Casino, the newest and biggest casino in North Central Washington.  There’s also Winthrop, known for its rustic cowboy aesthetic that it’s been sporting since 1971. It has store fronts in 1800’s style with saloons and breweries. It’s also home to the Methow Trails headquarters which manages the 120 trail system. There, you can ski or snowshoe! To learn more about great winter activities not too far from home check out the Wenatchee Valley Visitor Guide. Finally, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur According to Mark Behler, Curator at the Wenatchee Valley Museum, the name Wenatchi comes from the Yakama Indians to the south. It is from their word Winatsa, which means “Water Gushing Out.” Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday! Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday December 26th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today - this year Parishioners attend church in spirit and through photographs.   This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.   -   Now our feature story.   Full Dec 26th clip   Every Friday, parishioners are piled in the front seat of Tracy Warner’s car and driven to Wenatchee First United Church, carried inside, and left in their pews — some for over three months now.   They ride the three blocks in his Honda, sitting in the front passenger seat like someone trying to fool their way into the commuter lane.    But these are two-dimensional torsos, photographs stuck to thin, foam core board and cut out in Warner’s garage with a band saw.   During a Wenatchee First United Church Zoom council meeting in September, the idea was proposed to fill the empty church pews with cutouts of members.    The Seattle Mariner’s baseball team was doing it with photographs of fans at Safeco Field and some members thought they could do something similar at their church.   Warner volunteered to head the effort and found that for $30 he could have the life-size busts of people printed along with a board for backing. Near the start of the project, over a dozen people signed up and sent Warner their digital image files along with a donation to cover the costs.   He takes the time to place the cutouts in specific areas of the church, since people like to have their cutouts sit where they normally sit.    Warner said that everybody has a chance to come to church - a chance to at least be there in spirit.   So now, on Sunday mornings, pastors preach in a lonely sanctuary: the only people there are a piano and organ player and technical crew to live stream the services to Facebook.   -   Now, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients.   Amanda Vargas, an Eastmont alum, started working for Stemilt Growers in 2007 as a night shift apple sorter. She was also attending Wenatchee Valley College at the time. She continued working there after earning her associate degree. She was intrigued by the produce industry and soon realized there was opportunity to learn and grow within the company. In 2012, she became an inventory supervisor, and then a couple of years later, she was named a logistics specialist. She was also selected to help design Stemilt’s Fresh Cube Distribution Center in 2016 and then offered an IT job as junior functional analyst before moving to her current position in January 2019 as supply chain analyst.   Vargas says that she is inspired and motivated by setting examples and defying the odds. She loves showing what strong work ethic and initiative can accomplish. Setting goals and surpassing expectations motivates her to be an example for young women and girls, including her daughter.   -   Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur <spell out n-a-b-u-r>   Although it’s a mid-point between Spokane and Seattle, Wenatchee Valley was largely inaccessible because of the mountains. Despite limitations, the City's great potential as an agricultural region and business center did not go unnoticed. And in 1890 a group of Seattle businessmen formed the Wenatchee Improvement Company. They then began to acquire property and build a town.   -   Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com   The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Good Morning it’s Thursday December 24th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, we’re focused on what’s in store for the The Apple Blossom Festival in 2021.   Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.   -   Before we begin, did you know that more than three-dozen festive displays have been added to our holiday lights map this year? See the map at wenatcheeworld.com/holidaylights and enjoy a safe drive around the valley. Happy holidays from all of us at The Wenatchee World.   -   Now our feature story…   The Apple Blossom Festival is starting to see some changes for the 2021 season. Everything from a cancelled auction to virtual Apple Blossom pageants.   Darci Christoferson, Apple Blossom Festival administrator said that the festival is ready to adapt to whatever circumstances arise. They’re planning to be in full swing starting in late April.    The Apple Blossom royalty selection process has already started earlier this month with the announcement of the top 38 girls from Wenatchee and Eastmont high schools.   The royalty selection will be a virtual experience this year. Ten of the 38 girls competing will be selected at the end of January to advance to the Royalty Selection Pageant. But the selection process for the Top 10 girls has changed because of COVID-19, according to the news release. It will not include a vote from the student body of each high school, instead relying entirely on the votes of five out-of-town judges. Finally, a queen and two princesses for the year are selected. The Apple Blossom Queen will win a prize of $10,000 in scholarship funding and two princesses will win $5,000 each. You can watch on the NCW Life Channel, they’ll be streaming all of the events on their Facebook Live page. NCW Life will also live stream the Royalty Selection Pageant which takes place on February 27th. In addition to these changes in how the pageant will be run, the Apple Blossom Festival has canceled its in person auction this year. Instead the festival will do a virtual auction during the Royalty Selection Pageant. This year It will be somewhat difficult for the festival considering they won’t receive any revenue from selling tickets to the pageant. The festival’s budget has been somewhat helped by the fact that they haven’t had to spend money on events due to the pandemic, but they do employ two full-time staff members and one part-time bookkeeper. For now, Christoferson says they’re doing fine, they’re keeping our lights on. But as it gets closer to the festival - that is when we’re going to need income coming in. - Now, we’d like to take a moment to talk about how local wineries are adapting to covid rules. Wineries and tasting rooms were set for a booming summer before the coronavirus led to far more restrictive plans for social gatherings. The region's growing number of wineries have been reined in by often-changing regulations that have kept them from fully opening. In response, owners and managers of North Central Washington wineries have come up with creative ways to sell and distribute their spirits. They’ve also found ways to offer safe social gatherings - something customers are craving more than ever.  Cave B Estate Vineyards in Quincy, among others, offers outdoor tastings by reservation. Customers are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy their drinks on the lawn. Allan Williams, the marketing director for Jones of Washington, said that their winery is fortunate that it also sells wine wholesale to distributors - those sales started off the year way above years past.  This year, people are buying more wine than ever, but the competition is fierce.    -   Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur   The White Heron Cellars winery has also been located above nearby Trinidad since 1989. Trinidad was originally a railroad stop, named because of its similarity to Trinidad, Colorado. And now, Trinidad is becoming busier - as houses are built to take advantage of the views of the Columbia River.   -   Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday December 22nd, and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today - now that the first Wenatchee residents have been vaccinated, a historic inoculation campaign has begun. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Before we begin, did you know that more than three-dozen festive displays have been added to our holiday lights map this year? See the map at wenatcheeworld.com/holidaylights and enjoy a safe drive around the valley. Happy holidays from all of us at The Wenatchee World. Now our feature story… ICU nurse Todd Avis helped care for the first COVID-19 patient in Wenatchee last spring. And on Thursday he became one of the very first health care workers in the area to be vaccinated. Armed with a shipment of the Pfizer mRNA vaccine that had been delivered on Tuesday, Confluence Health vaccinated more than 150 frontline health care workers on Thursday. Among them were ICU nurses, physical therapists and support staff who clean the rooms of coronavirus-positive patients. In addition to its own staff, Confluence Health is offering vaccination appointments to other frontline workers. More than 500 people signed up for the first three days of appointments. Over the coming months that pool of 500 will expand to tens of thousands. Health officials will be pushing to build herd immunity and bring an end to the pandemic as soon as possible. Confluence pharmacists made a welcome discovery on the first day of vaccinations: each vial had enough vaccine for an extra dose. With 195 vials in this first Pfizer shipment, that raised its supply from 975 doses to around 1,170. Governor Jay Inslee spoke at a press release last week announcing the vaccine’s arrival in Washintgon. For nurses like Avis, who’s been with Confluence Health since 2014, the vaccine couldn’t come soon enough. He said that at this stage he thinks healthcare workers are just at the point of 'let’s get through this. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccination. Health care workers have been in short supply across the country and here in North Central Washington.  One of those frontline staff members is Dave Hesse, a physical therapist who’s spent the past three months treating ICU patients. Hesse was officially the first person in Wenatchee to receive the vaccine on Thursday morning. Hesse’s days are often spent helping patients battling severe cases of COVID-19 regain their strength. It’s medical personnel like Avis and Hesse, who interact with COVID-19 patients day in and day out, who are being prioritized for vaccination while doses are still in very limited supply. Upon the arrival of the vaccine Dr. Peter Rutherford, Confluence Health CEO said that though the PPE is great, the vaccine is one more layer of hopefully longer-term protection. He also said he’s incredibly grateful to all the staff here who have been dealing with this for 10 months and all of the emotional distress that it has caused. People keep coming and trying and doing their best. In many ways, health care workers will be the easiest group to vaccinate — Confluence Health staff have so far been eager to take it. As supplies increase, focus will turn to other at-risk groups including essential workers and adults with preexisting conditions. At that point, public education about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine will be key. Rutherford also stressed that until the general public has been vaccinated, we’ve got to stay diligent about the other efforts to not transmit the disease. Even though he had the vaccine during the trail, he will continue to wear a mask and stay socially distanced. State health officer Dr. Kathy Lofy gave a similar message. Next, we’d like to take a moment to recognize a decade of masterful gardening.  The late Homer McNeill had a vision - it grew from a seedling of an idea into a fully blossoming garden.  It’s thanks to Homer that we have a beautiful community education garden in Wenatchee.  The Master gardeners have also played an important role. The master gardeners are a group of community minded volunteers. They do more than tend to the garden. Each year there are improvements or even additions along with many educational events. For example, in 2013 they built the butterfly garden among other projects.  But this year things have changed. The pandemic put a stop to the community education garden’s outreach functions.  Finally, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur A three and a half mile-long precipice in Coulee is known as Dry Falls. Dry Falls is thought to be the largest waterfall that ever existed. Geologists believe that during the last ice age catastrophic flooding channeled water at 65 miles per hour through the Upper Grand Coulee. Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday December 19th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today - Health officials are advising people to stay at home and limit travel, but the streets of Leavenworth have been filled with holiday visitors from all around the country, and around the world. This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Now our feature story. Leavenworth’s beloved annual Christmas lighting festival is not officially happening this year.  Most of the main attractions are not taking place.  But one frontline restaurant worker, Kenzie Converse, said the town and the Christmas lights that it's famous for are open for business. Converse said that “These lights are advertising our town by default,”  Converse is a bartender in downtown Leavenworth, and she didn’t want to disclose the name of her employer. She said she’s been carding people from Florida, from Texas, from Georgia to Montana and Idaho, from Hawaii, and even people from out of country. The Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce helps put up the Christmas lights around town each year. They’re  usually up starting the day after Thanksgiving until Valentine’s Day. But now, Mayor Carl Florea said that  the city is considering the possibility of only turning the lights on during weekdays to reduce the number of visitors on busy weekends. Jessica Stoller, Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce spokesperson said [quote] “This constantly changing and evolving environment creates a tightrope for us to walk between helping the city’s commerce, while also adhering to public health guidelines and safety measures,”  In a statement, the Chamber of Commerce said it is not actively promoting people to visit Leavenworth. It has canceled all of its festivals and is encouraging people to enjoy a virtual experience on their website instead. Meanwhile, Chelan-Douglas Health Officer Dr. Malcolm Butler said he’s received complaints from Leavenworth residents about the high number of visitors to the city.  His opinion? We are witnessing the frustration caused by unenforceable mandates wherein the efforts of people who are following the mandates are mocked by people who choose not to care. Others, like Love Leavenworth Vacation Rentals owner, Sean Lynn say that people shouldn’t be focused on the businesses. That’s not where transmissions are occurring. His business and others have been booming with visitors since the summer, yet the number of positive cases has just recently started to climb. He thinks the increase in positive cases is because people are socializing at each other’s homes. People are experiencing fatigue from following COVID-19 health regulations and their compliance is slipping, he said. Leavenworth now has one of the highest ratios of COVID-19 positives per city in Chelan County.  Just in time for the holidays - The Foothills Magazine Wine Issue. Read up on local wine ratings from the 2020 NCW Wine Awards. Pick up your free copy of the November December issue of Foothills available now at free rack locations throughout North Central Washington. Now, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients. Today we’re highlighting Nathan Cacka, who, on the surface seems to be all about the numbers. After getting a master’s degree in accountancy with a focus on assurance services from Gonzaga University, he moved to Wenatchee to join Cordell, Neher & Company PLLC as a manager. Nathan is also completing the final licensing required to be a wealth management financial adviser. His leadership and community involvement extend beyond office hours, though. He mentors members of the firm and serves as a model for balancing the demands of the accounting profession. On top of that Nathan and his wife, who is a registered nurse at Confluence Health, have three sons. He serves as treasurer for Lighthouse Christian Ministries, and he volunteers in the community, doing everything from picking up garbage on the highway to helping with his church, Grace City. Thanks for taking a moment with us today to recognize Nathan! Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR  – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur In March of 1910, a westbound train was stranded at Wellington Station along the Great Northern Railway. Conditions worsened, and eventually a catastrophic avalanche struck. It washed away the entire station, and the train. With nearly 100 people killed, it became one of the country’s worst railroad disasters.  Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday December 17th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, we’re focused on The Time Capsule. A new gallery and museum that offers Wenatchee residents a blast from the past Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Now our feature story… Underneath a staircase at the corner of Orondo and Wenatchee avenues - through an office hallway and past the cardboard cutout of Angelina Jolie from Tomb Raider, hides Wenatchee’s new pop culture media store. It’s called. The Time Capsule. Located at 23 Orondo Ave, it’s a retro gallery and museum, specializing in ‘80s and ‘90s pop culture collectibles. Customers are invited to browse through the store's collection of VHS tapes, records, retro Game Boys and action hero figurines - like a talking Yoda!. Kayla Nunn, who is co-owner with her husband Douglas Nunn. said that “A lot of it's nostalgia, we all had these toys growing up and then things happen, you have to get rid of them, but then being able to find them and see them again is a really cool feeling.” The storefront officially opened Nov. 21, but the Nunns have been collecting most of their lives. Their collection started with X-Men Wolverine figurines, and expanded to movies, music and other pop culture relics. Now, their space features a mock-living room and arcade space, complete with Marvel and NBA arcade games, couches and a retro television. The Nunns hope to turn the area into a community space… post-pandemic of course... and host public trivia nights, old movie showings, and even birthday or bachelor parties. Nunn said, “Something that makes us happy is getting lost in a movie or a comic. We just want people to step out of the hard stuff of life and have a good time for a little while.” Happy Holidays Wenatchee Valley! The season of giving is upon us once again and the Wenatchee World would like you to enter to win one of our weekly holiday gift packages in our Holiday Season Giveaway. Go online to wentacheeworld.com/holiday Paul Graves, is a man whose music has been shaped by the vast landscape and stories of the North Cascades. According to him, nature and the surrounding environment are definitely an inspiration. His album titled “Enchantments of a Mountain,” is a collection of one-take guitar tracks. No vocals, no splicing. It’s purely acoustic guitar. He was 12 when he started playing guitar after receiving one as a Christmas present from his parents. Graves played in a band called Moss Dog, in the early ‘90s and they wrote about UFOs, cows, ghosts, Bigfoot and, of course, cow ghosts. Bigfoot in particular is one topic Graves has expanded on quite a lot. In fact, he’s been researching the creature since 1988, after hearing about a Wenatchee man’s encounter.  Lately, Graves has been working on a new album at the Resonate Audio Recording studio in Wenatchee. Trips to the studio were happening on a weekly basis, but then COVID-19 hit town. If you want to hear more, check him out on Spotify, Amazon or Apple Music! Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur  In the 1960’s the town of Leavenworth, just a half hour from Wenatchee, decided to become a seasonal tourist town. Innkeepers and shop owners on main street, completely redesigned the buildings in the style of Bavarian villages. Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday December 15th, and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, we’re focused on how the holiday spirit is alive and well in Wenatchee, despite COVID-19. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. Now our feature story… That was Dan Gaspar of N Western Avenue. And like Dan, many other folks in Wenatchee agree - the holiday spirit is alive and well in our community this year despite COVID-19. Though many activities have been canceled, Christmas light viewing is one thing that hasn’t been affected by the pandemic.  Nick Nelson in Sunnyslope had one of the most impressive displays, We also spoke to Liesl McDonald of Sunnyslope who had another great set-up.  If you’re looking for ways to get in the holiday spirit check out our map on wenatcheeworld.com/holiday lights. Every year we publish a map of the best holiday light displays in our community, and this year we’re especially excited to share. You won’t want to miss out! Some of our neighbors have been working on their displays since October. If you have your own display we encourage you to submit a photo of your lights, along with a brief description and location at wenatcheeworld.com/holidaylights. Submissions are added to our virtual map for people participating in a pandemic-compliant tour of the lights in our community! We’re also excited to recognize an incredible chef in our community today.  For Top Rojanasthien cooking is about people. It’s a way to come together. His philosophy? Happy food equals happy people. Rojanasthien is based in Wenatchee and owns two restaurants, “Atlas Fare”, and “The Thai Restaurant”.  Altas Fare opened in January, so just a few months before Covid hit. But he remains positive and told us that it’s given him time to fine-tune. He also said that there’s a good energy in town, with many young people opening businesses of their own.  Rojanasthien draws from flavors he liked in his childhood, with an upscale and modern take. He also shops locally as much as he can, buying produce from the Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market, or other local stops like Mike’s Meats and Seafood.  He said cooking has opened up a lot of opportunities for him, and he even appeared on Guy’s Grocery Games with Guy Fieri! You can read more about Rojanasthien in the December issue of Foothills Magazine at ncwfoothills.com or pick up your own copy on newsracks all around North Central Washington.  Finally, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur After collecting nutcrackers since the 1970’s Arlene Wagner and her husband George opened The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum in 1995. The museum features a six foot beer drinking nutcracker named Karl, as well as nutcrackers from over 50 countries. It’s one of the largest collections of its kind in the world. Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday December 12th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, we’re focused on Three businesses that made their debut amid pandemic. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. And before we begin, do you want to share your home’s holiday light display with the valley? You can add your festive decorations to our interactive map by visiting wenatcheeworld.com/holidaylights Now our feature story. Opening a new business can be a daunting, stressful and exhilarating adventure under normal circumstances. Imagine adding a pandemic and a set of debilitating and ever-changing restrictions that come with it into the mix — not exactly an ideal recipe for success. But Green Motion EBikes, My Little Valley Customs & Tattoos, and Yarn Bird were all poised to open their doors in the spring, armed with startup financing, business plans and, in some cases, lease agreements.  The shutdowns ordered in March changed their opening dates, but not their willingness to move forward. And finally, Aaron Woodhead and co-owner Kelly Delong, opened Green Motion EBikes in the spring, and then got shut down for two-and-a-half months. Woodhead said it was like the worst possible timing. But surprisingly, the e-bike industry as a whole took off. Woodhead has been a self-described YouTuber for the past 10 years, getting paid by vaping companies to promote the use of electronic cigarettes and other vaping pens as a way to quit smoking cigarettes. He felt making the transition from e-cigs to e-bikes was a natural one. Woodhead said e-bikes at other stores can run as high as $10,000, but at GreenMotion E-Bikes run from $699 to $1,500. Omar Valenzuela, the owner of My Little Valley Customs & Tattoos in Wenatchee, was forced to delay his grand opening from January to September. He also said that he scaled down his original idea and even put his wedding on hold because of the pandemic. But three months in, he’s optimistic. Everything is by appointment only, and only one customer is allowed in the store at a time, but so far, business has been steady. Once they make it through the winter, if regulations allow, they hope to expand. First with the addition of a tattoo apprentice. And later, they’d like to start offering classes similar to ones done at Class with a Glass in Wenatchee. Picture yourself tattooing skin like material while drinking a beer!  Tracy Gausman also opened her business, Yarn Bird, during the pandemic. As a knitter for more than 30 years and member of the North Central Washington Knitters Guild, she had considered opening a yarn store for a few years. Even though things looked bleak, Gausman said she never hesitated when it came to opening up. She also shifted the business online and created a website where customers could look at inventory and make purchases by phone or email. Business has been slow but steady. She currently has one employee, who she hopes will get to teach knitting classes in the future. Yarn stores are common places for knitters to gather, share stories and projects and ask for help. Knitting, above all else, is a social outlet for people. And while new restrictions were put in place mid-November, Gausman believes she’s now better equipped to last through another shutdown. She even produces a weekly newsletter. Just in time for the holidays - The Foothills Magazine Wine Issue. Read up on local wine ratings from the 2020 NCW Wine Awards. Pick up your free copy of the November December issue of Foothills available now at free rack locations throughout North Central Washington. Now, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients. Today we’re highlighting Brandt Cappell, a Senior legislative assistant at the Washington State House of Representatives. After graduating from Wenatchee Valley College, Cappell went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in natural resource policy, with a minor in political science, from Washington State University. He then worked as the legislative assistant for Cary Condotta and later for newly elected Representative Keith Goehner. This spring, Cappell entered the political fray in his own right, competing for an open seat on the Chelan County Commission. He narrowly missed earning a spot on the November ballot, but found himself in a position to help the community as COVID-19 turned everything upside down. He used my campaign platform to help folks find ways to help serve our community’s needs.  Cappell and his wife, Brittney, have a daughter, Savannah. When he’s not working, he is involved in his church’s leadership team and enjoys fishing and camping with friends and family. He said that changed his outlook on life. He wants his daughter  to look back and see that her father worked hard to serve his community and citizens and did as much as he could to make his home a better place. Thanks for taking a moment today to recognize Brandt Cappell!  Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur Wenatchee is sometimes referred to as the "Buckle of the Power Belt of the Great Northwest". It’s a metaphor for the hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River. The Rock Island Dam was completed in 1933 and it was the first on the mainstem Columbia River. -Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!  Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday December 10th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, we have the story of Santa and about 10 members of the Chelan County Regional SWAT Team who surprised a young cancer patient with presents. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. And before we begin, do you want to share your home’s holiday light display with the valley? You can add your festive decorations to our interactive map by visiting wenatcheeworld.com/holidaylights Now our feature story… As “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” echoed off the homes in an otherwise quiet Malaga neighborhood, Saint Nick shouted season's greetings from his position inside the turret of an armored vehicle to a girl fighting cancer. Santa and about 10 members of the Chelan County Regional SWAT Team recently delivered Christmas presents to 4-year-old Danica Taylor and her brothers Harrison and Hawkins. Danica was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor in her brain three years ago and has undergone 23 surgeries. Danica’s mom, Audrey Taylor said that her daughter is sweet but sassy, and brave too. She also said [quote] “Danica knows when she has to do hard things, and sometimes that’s hard for her, but she will still do it” Audrey Taylor described a moment when Danica was 2. At the time, her greatest fear was when nurses had to change the sticker covering her Hickman line, a type of catheter often used in chemotherapy. Danica was crying and Audrey asked - ‘Danica, can you sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’? And Danica did. Last Thursday was a good day though, she wore a “Pink Panther” mask with matching pink Vans, sat on a porch swing with her mom as the SWAT team passed the Taylor kids presents. Here’s Danica when she first heard about the special drive by parade: She giggled when Santa, sometimes known as Deputy Brett Peterson, gave her a stuffed snowman and was delighted by a “Frozen II” Elsa doll.  The parade of police vehicles and Santa’s appearance was part of the department’s Santa’s Stars program, which was started six years ago by Adam Musgrove, the chief of patrol for the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. Julie Lindholm, the executive director of Wellness Place, a nonprofit group that helps cancer patients and survivors in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties told Musgrove about Danica’s story, and he wanted to do something very special for her and her family.  For the Taylors, the night was a warm spot in an otherwise painful year. Audrey Taylor said that she was really grateful to have the support of community members in Wenatchee, especially after coming from a time in Covid where people were saying ‘We’re in this together,’ but in reality they were isolated in a hospital room. The family happened to be at Seattle Children’s Hospital on Feb. 29 to get Danica treatment when the state’s first COVID death was reported in King County. This was initially believed to be the first death in the U.S.  The hospital immediately initiated strict safeguards within its walls and permitted patients only one visitor at a time. Audrey Taylor described it saying that the hospital’s glass doors slammed shut behind them and they didn’t know why visitors weren’t allowed in. They spent about the next 73 days at the hospital, a time period during which Danica had 11 surgeries. On top of medical complications, the stay was made even more difficult by the pandemic protocols. Only one parent was allowed at her bedside and Danica wasn’t able to see her brothers, so the family was separated for most of the stay. They don’t take their time together for granted, and Danica’s dad prays every night that they’ll all be under one roof. Danica is headed back to Seattle for more treatment soon, and if you’d like to support the family a GoFundMe is available. To find the link visit our full story about Danica at wenatcheeworld.com Happy Holidays Wenatchee Valley! The season of giving is upon us once again and the Wenatchee World would like you to enter to win one of our weekly holiday gift packages in our Holiday Season Giveaway. Go online to wentacheeworld.com, scroll down until you see the red ribbons and pretty packages and click to enter. No purchase necessary. Did you know that Wenatchee residents will finally have the opportunity to see local playwright Heidi Schreck’s Broadway play “What the Constitution Means to Me.” It’s available now on Amazon Prime Video. The play is set in the Wenatchee American Legion Hall, and it earned two Tony Awards nominations — Best Play and a Best Actress in a Play nod for Schreck. The play questions the endurance of the nation’s founding documents and whether they protect all Americans. It also touches on contemporary issues such as women’s rights and immigration. Before finding her big break in New York, Schreck got her onstage start at her mother’s Wenatchee acting company Short Shakespeareans, which adapts classic Shakespeare plays for kids. We encourage you to check it out on Amazon Prime Video! Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur In 1915 Bud Sagendorf was born in Wenatchee. He went on to become the writer and artist responsible for creating the Popeye comic strip from 1945 on! Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday December 8th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, we’re discussing how Wenatchee could receive its first vaccine shipment as early as mid-December. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. And before we begin, do you want to share your home’s holiday light display with the valley? You can add your festive decorations to our interactive map by visiting wenatcheeworld.com/holidaylights Now our feature story… Confluence Health has been approved as one of the first COVID-19 vaccine distribution centers in the state and they’re expecting to receive their first doses by mid-December. The first shipment will include around 975 doses, likely going to health care workers and long-term care facilities first, followed by other at-risk groups, and eventually full communities. The first vaccine Confluence expects to receive is manufactured by the American company Pfizer and German company BioNTech. Early data from clinical trials found the vaccine to be safe and 95% effective. Here’s Confluence Health’s Dr. Mark Johnson, an infectious disease physician in Wenatchee. Confluence Health officials cautioned in an interview Friday that the distribution plan and timeline are still being worked out, so details of the plan may change. The Pfizer vaccine is also still under review at the FDA. But, according to Tyler Fischback, pharmacy manager and COVID-19 vaccine coordinator, the organization’s approval as a storage and distribution site — which was granted by the state Department of Health back on Nov. 24 — confirms that it is in fact in a position to effectively bring vaccines to North Central Washington. Fishback said that there have been weekly calls with the Department of Health and other community partners, to plan how they will orchestrate the largest vaccination effort of the last 50 or 60 years. It’s an enormous undertaking and it’ll be an all-hands-on-deck community effort.” The delivery alone is delicate. The doses must be transported and kept at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which Confluence will be able to accommodate in a freezer in one of its Wenatchee facilities. In fact, they actually have the capacity to hold around 20,000 doses in their research freezer.  Confluence Health, is the region’s largest healthcare provider, and they already have experience handling and distributing the Pfizer vaccine on a much smaller scale. It was one of a few hundred organizations across the country that participated in Pfizer’s Phase 3 trial earlier this year. Another vaccine, this one created by Boston company Moderna, is also pending approval by the FDA and is expected to be the next one delivered to North Central Washington. One major benefit? The Moderna vaccine doesn’t need ultra-cold temperatures that the Pfizer vaccine requires, which Fishback believes will allow it to be more easily distributed, especially to more rural communities.. Like the Pfizer vaccine, it’s also an mRNA vaccine that requires two doses. An mRNA vaccine essentially instructs a person’s cells to create a harmless piece of the coronavirus called a spike protein. In response, the body develops an immune response and antibodies that can fight off the real coronavirus.  The chief of the FDA said on Friday that 20 million Americans could be vaccinated this year. Here he is in an interview with Reuters. And when the vaccine is finally opened up to the general public, Confluence will work with other local and state partners on a widespread education campaign to ensure the public understands that it is safe and effective. But until then, Confluence Health’s CEO, Dr. Peter Rutherford has this following message. To keep up with stories like this sign up for the Wenatchee World’s free Daily Headlines email newsletter. You’ll get the day’s news delivered straight to your email in-box every weekday morning, Go online to wenatcheeworld.com/newsletter and enter your email to sign up today. Now, we’d like to take a moment to remember internationally acclaimed violin virtuoso Camilla Wicks who's passing was felt deeply by many of us in North Central Washington.  Camilla, a child prodigy who was recognized as the foremost female concert violinist in the 1940s and 1950s, lived in Wenatchee with her children in the 1970s where she taught violin and played in the Wenatchee Valley Symphony. Despite her unfathomable talent, she was also a humble soul.  Camilla was born into a musical family of Norwegian heritage. She started playing the violin at age 3 ½ and performed the Vivaldi Concerto in A Minor in public, from memory, at age 4. Her family relocated to New York so that she could attend the Juilliard School of Music at age 10. In 1942, at age 13, she debuted as a soloist in New York’s Town Hall and later with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. By her late teens, she was appearing with leading American orchestras and touring in Europe, to critical acclaim. There were few recordings of Camilla's’ amazing talents, but the ones that survive have been lauded by music critics, including her legendary performance of the Sibelius concerto in 1952. She is survived by three of her children: Lise-Marie Wertanzl, Angela Thomas Jeffrey and Erik John Thomas. Camilla was a remarkable human being and a masterful teacher to so many musicians both in our valley and around the world.  If you are interested in hearing more of Camilla’s music, she released the album: Camilla Wicks: Five Decades of Treasured Performance back in 2015. More information on her remarkable life can be found at camillawicks.net. Finally, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur Did you know that between 1910 and 1930 Wenatchee’s population surged? It went from less than 4,000 folks in 1910 to nearly 12,000 in 1930. With commercial success came libraries, schools, churches, theatres, shops, newspapers, and other institutions. Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday December 5th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, we’re focused on 44 year old Eastmont teacher Kai Knell who survived a near-fatal heart attack despite working out five days a week and eating healthily. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA. And before we begin, do you want to share your home’s holiday light display with the valley? You can add your festive decorations to our interactive map by visiting wenatcheeworld.com/holidaylights Now our feature story. At 44, Eastmont history teacher Kai Knell was a picture of health. The former Wildcat and WVC basketball star worked out five days a week and ate healthily. But on the morning of Oct. 28, his life changed. His wife Mariah found him lifeless, changing colors, and she immediately called 911. She performed CPR and once the paramedics arrived, they worked on Kai for nearly an hour, shocking his heart three times to get it beating. Kai was placed into an induced coma to prevent any further damage to his body and brain. At that time the Doctors were unsure if Kai would be able to wake up... But about 24 hours later, he awoke from the coma and completely shocked the doctors. For a healthy guy and lifelong athlete, it just did not make any sense. He wondered if he ate something bad, but he was soon diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy or ARVC which can lead to sudden death. Kai told us that  “The life expectancy for males that have it is around 41. It’s prone to people that are athletes or marathon runners. With that type of genetic condition, the more you exercise, the more the heart tissue turns into fat.” Now... Kai has to take medication daily and carries a defibrillator with him in case his heart stops again… and he’s had to curtail most strenuous activities…. perhaps the toughest pill of all to swallow for a lifelong athlete. To read more more about Kai’s journey and what the Wenatchee community is doing to help him recover, head over to www.WenatcheeWorld.com. Just in time for the holidays - The Foothills Magazine Wine Issue. Read up on local wine ratings from the 2020 NCW Wine Awards. Pick up your free copy of the November December issue of Foothills available now at free rack locations throughout North Central Washington. Next, every week we're profiling one of the recipients of the World's 30 Under 35 awards. That was Armando Bendito-Zepeda, a 26-year-old accountant from Wenatchee who is on his way to becoming a certified public accountant, taking the time this spring to help explain the CARES Act in Spanish to local business owners. His dedication to family and community landed him a spot on this year's 30 Under 35 list, the Wenatchee Valley Business World program that honors young professionals well on their way to being community leaders. Bendito-Zepeda’s work ethic is inspiring and at 23, just one year out of college, he purchased a home for his parents and two younger sisters. He has since added a second house, with plans to purchase more. He told us that his parents, who are immigrants, have always been there for him. And said that “I kind of kept that in the back of my head. They moved here so I could have a better life.” Bendito-Zepeda said he’s also planning to expand his mission to provide stable living environments and quality homes for low-income families on government assistance Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR  – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur. Did you know that Pangborn Memorial Airport is named for Clyde Pangborn, who, in 1931 was the first pilot to fly non-stop across the Pacific Ocean? He took off from Japan with an intended destination of Seattle... but he and his co-pilot landed right here in Wenatchee instead. Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday December 3rd, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today, we’re focused on a local doctor who continues outreach with a new YouTube channel.   Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.   And before we begin, do you want to share your home’s holiday light display with the valley? You can add your festive decorations to our interactive map by visiting wenatcheeworld.com/holidaylights   -   Now our feature story… Local Dr. Mabel Bodell has launched a Spanish language YouTube channel as part of a COVID-19 information campaign.   Her first YouTube video explains  how a vaccine works by boosting the body’s immune system to combat a virus. To end the video she reminds her audience that vaccines work.   Bodell plans on releasing videos to her channel weekly. Alongside her, Miranda Nayak, a sophomore at Wenatchee High School and member of the school’s film club, has been editing videos for her channel.   Bodell is a nephrologist as well as a member of the Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion council at Confluence Health. Before that, she was an assistant professor at John Hopkins University and a member of the Hopkins Organization for Latino Awareness.   Her COVID-19 educational campaign consists of short, Spanish language videos, and she has collaborated with several community organizations to produce informational videos like how to put on a mask and how to properly wash your hands.   After noticing that many of the patients infected with COVID-19 were Latino, she implores the community to take action to help stop this pandemic.   So the focus of her campaign has been to share crucial COVID-19 information in a way that is still accessible to the Latino community.   And recently, that focus has shifted toward vaccines.   Bodell volunteered in the local Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine trial that began in August. After receiving her first shot, she posted a quick video on Facebook explaining how clinical trials work.   Although it was an exciting opportunity for her as a doctor, she said her involvement as a Latina was equally important. She wanted to prove that a future COVID-19 vaccine would be safe. And she urged members of the Latino community to apply for the trial in August. Minorities are always underrepresented in medical trials in the United States, according to Bodell. This occurs, in part, because some minority communities simply mistrust the medical system. So she’s working hard to help restore confidence.   -   Happy Holidays Wenatchee Valley! The season of giving is upon us once again and the Wenatchee World would like you to enter to win one of our weekly holiday gift packages in our Holiday Season Giveaway. Go online to wentacheeworld.com, scroll down until you see the red ribbons and pretty packages and click to enter. No purchase necessary.   -   Now, a local author whose novel was just published.   Christine Sandgren rewrote her novel “The Solomon Stone” three times in the past six years, a process which she called a painful but worthwhile experience.   The middle grade novel, released Nov. 17 by Fawkes Press, focuses on a character named Ruby, who was abandoned on an island with no memory of her parents. It’s an adventure about fitting in and finding one’s self. She plans to write two more novels, turning her series into a trilogy.   Sandgren, who lives in Portland, grew up in Wenatchee. Her writing was influenced by teachers in the Wenatchee School District, such as her first grade teacher Nancy George, who introduced her to Rudyard Kipling.    George has since retired but her teachings have continued to inspire Sandgren.   The Wenatchee World caught up with Sandgren to chat about her new novel, what it took to make and share what readers can expect to see. We encourage you to visit wenatcheeworld.com and check out the full interview! -   Finally, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur <spell out n-a-b-u-r>   Did you know that In 1975, Stemilt Growers, owned by the Mathison family, moved its headquarters from nearby Stemilt Hill to Olds Station, Wenatchee? Today, the company employs more than 1,500 people and grows, packs and ships apples, pears, cherries, and stone fruit all over the world.     Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday! Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.