Blue Mountain News - November 2011

Page 2 Blue Mountain NEWS November 2011

Table of Contents

Special Feature8-9

On the Cover

Also Inside4-7 News: Lighted Home Tour / Lighted Parade / Commercial Ave. / Pet Shine / Best Western / Asian Grill / New Chamber Assistant / Loan Fund10-12 Calendar of Events 13 Books15 One More Thing... Martha and Me

Ebenezer Scrooge darkened the lives of the Cratchett family nearly 200 years ago in Victorian England. But he will light up the stage this fall at the Liberty Theater. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is this year’s fall musical presented by Touchet Valley Arts Council Productions.

"A Christmas Carol"

Morgan Boggs of Dayton portrays Tiny Tim Cratchett in TVAC Productions' presentation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Photo by Ken Graham. Cover design by Vanessa Heim.

(509) 540-2752www.bluemtnnews.com

Blue Mountain News is mailed FREE to every home and business in Dayton,

Waitsburg, Starbuck and Prescott.

Also available at fine retailers throughout the area.Subscriptions out of the area are $12 per year.

Blue Mountain News is published 10 times per year by:Back of the Moon Press, 242 E. Main St., Dayton, WA 99328

Ken GrahamEditor and Publisher(509) 540-2752 | [email protected]

Tanya PattonAssoc. Editor & Advertising(509) 382-4458/(509) [email protected]

Vanessa HeimGraphic Designer

Copyright © 2011 by Back of the Moon PressNo part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

November 2011 Blue Mountain NEWS Page 3


News BriefsLighted Home Tour Participants Invited

Each year during the holidays, streets in Dayton come alive with holiday decorations. Lights line every eave, window and doorway on many homes, and yards are taken over by snowmen, Santas and nativity scenes. Photos can’t do them justice.

This year, as part of Dayton’s Christmas Kickoff celebration, Columbia County Public Transportation will sponsor the first “Dayton Holiday Lighted Home Tour and Contest.” For three weekends, beginning Friday, November 25th, busses will transport viewers past participating homes. Riders will get to vote for their favorites.

Homeowners within three miles of downtown Dayton are invited to participate in the tour and contest. Prizes for the top three decorated homes will be awarded based on viewers’ votes. They are: First Prize $100, Second Prize $60, Third Prize $40.

Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, from November 25th

through December 11th, busses will leave the Elk Drug parking lot at 7 p.m. (On November 25th, tours will begin following the evening’s fireworks.) Cost is $1.50 per rider under 60 and $1.00 for seniors 60 and over.

Participating homeowners can sign up by calling or going to the Dayton Chamber of Commerce Office, (509) 382-4825, the Columbia County Public Transportation office, (509) 382-1647 or Croft’s Floral and Gifts, (509) 382-2565. To be guaranteed a spot on the tour, applicants should sign up no later than November 18th.

Parades Will Light Up Holiday Festivals

The third annual Christmas Lighted Parade will be a highlight of Dayton’s Christmas Kickoff Celebration this year. Parade floats will begin rolling down Main Street at 6 p.m., Friday, November 25th. The parade is sponsored by Inland Cellular.

Everyone is encouraged to bring their lighted and decorated trucks, trailers, farm equipment, or whatever they can find that moves, and join in the fun. There’s no cost to take part, and no one will be judged. Participants will begin lining up next to the Seneca Office Building on Main Street and North Fifth Streets at 5 p.m. “We hope to once again have close to 40 participants in the parade,” says Dayton’s Christmas Kickoff chairperson Vicky Beckmeyer, of Croft’s Floral and Gifts.

For information or to pick up a signup sheet, contact the Dayton Chamber of Commerce at (509) 382-4825 or Croft’s Floral and Gifts at (509) 382-2565. Participants are encouraged to sign up early to get a good spot.

Waitsburg holds its own lighted Holiday Parade on Sunday evening, December 4th, during the town’s Hometown Christmas celebration. Participants are invited. The Waitsburg Parade will also begin at 6:00 p.m. For information or to sign up, contact Ruth Peterson at (509) 337-8849.

Left: A Syndicate Hill home explodes with holiday lights in 2009. (Photo by Vanessa Heim) Right: A holiday float lights up Dayton's Main Street during the Christmas Lighted Parade in 2010. (Photo by Ken Graham)


Erin Gibson gives Mocha a bath.

Pet Shine Opens on Dayton's Main Street

A Vision for a Gathering Spot in Downtown Dayton

When Erin Gibson was looking for a job in the Portland area nearly 10 years ago, she went to work for a veterinarian in Newberg, Ore. as a receptionist. “I wasn’t very good at it,” she says. “So pretty soon I was working in the back, helping with the animals. I was a lot better at that.” She soon became trained as a dog groomer and spent eight years in the profession.

Since moving to Walla Walla two years ago, Erin has had non-dog-related jobs. But when she learned a pet grooming business on Dayton's Main Street was for sale, she decided to go for it.

Erin operates Pet Shine at 139 E. Main Street, the former home of CW and Friends. She offers a complete range of services, including washing, grooming (hair cutting) and nail clipping. She says she’ll soon offer nail painting as well.

For more information about Pet Shine and its services, contact Erin at (509) 382-4810.

This sketch shows a potential design for the development of City of Dayton-owned property along Commercial Avenue, between Front and Second Streets. Landscape architect David Dougherty and a team of consultants were hired by the Dayton Development Task Force to research possible uses of the Commercial Avenue Corridor and make design proposals. They have presented a number of alternatives.

The design will incorporate the courtyard and lawn behind the Dayton Historic Depot. The playground shown on the right side of the drawing is already being constructed. For more information about this project, contact Marcene Hendrickson at (509) 382-4860.

(Image Courtesy of DLA Landscape Architects.)


NewsBest Western Hotel in the Works for DaytonPlans are in place for construction of a 50 room Best Western Plus Hotel in

Dayton at the current site of Dayton Wine Works on East Main Street. The investor, Dr. Derek Duke, says that he and his wife, Christina, hope

to complete purchase of the property in January and finish construction of the hotel and be open for business before the end of 2012.

According to Dr. Duke, the hotel will include an expanded conference area with a kitchen and an 1,100 square foot meeting room. “The Best Western Plus has a higher level of services than a standard Best Western,” he says. “We wanted to provide the type of meeting and banquet facility that isn’t currently available in Dayton.”

Dr. Duke is a neurosurgeon who practices in Henderson, Nevada. He has owned farm properties in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties for several years. He and Christina have three sons. “We’ve traveled with the boys to the Dayton and Waitsburg area several times,” says Dr. Duke, “and we love it there.”

Dr. Duke says that he is currently working with potential contractors to establish the final design for the hotel. “We want a design that has a northwest feel and fits the area and the community really well,” he says.

“We’re looking forward to providing an excellent lodging facility for visitors as well as employment opportunities for members of the community,” says Dr. Duke. “We think it will be a great addition to Dayton.” q

Dayton’s former bowling alley is now home to a new family restaurant. The Asian Grill opened in late October at 525 W. Main Street. Kyung Kim (in photo at right) and her husband and son operate the restaurant, which is owned by the Kims' daughter, Julie Kim, of Seattle.

The Asian Grill serves a wide range of Chinese and Japanese food. Most dishes are priced between $7 and $11. “Our Teriyaki is very popular,” says Kyung. “And besides Chinese and Japanese, we also serve Korean Barbeque.”

The Kims are experienced restaurant owners. Before opening their Dayton restaurant, they operated I Love Teriyaki on Main Street in Walla Walla for two years. Over the past 25 years they have also operated restaurants in Bellevue and Seattle, and in Tucson, Ariz.

The Asian Grill has a bar which serves beer and wine. Kyung points out that, besides family members, the restaurant has hired several local residents. The Asian Grill is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call (509) 382-3022.

Asian Grill Now Open in Dayton


Loan Funds Available for Columbia County Businesses

In October, Linze Purcell joined the Dayton Chamber of Commerce staff as the new assistant to Executive Director Claudia Nysoe. Linze replaces Amber Phinney, who left the Chamber in September to take a position at the Port of Columbia.

Linze is a native of Placerville, Calif. and moved to Dayton in October, 2010, after living in Tri-Cities for a couple of years. Prior to taking her current position, Linze was employed as assistant manager at the Liberty Theater.

“Linze brings some great skills to our office,” says Claudia. She says that, along with other support duties, Linze will be responsible for managing the Chamber’s web site and its social media presence. Linze is also working on her bachelor’s degree in business administration.

The Benton-Franklin Council of Governments in Richland is working in association with the Port of Columbia to make financing programs available to small businesses in Columbia County. “In these tough economic times, financing a new business idea or a business expansion project can be difficult,” says Jennie Dickinson, the Port’s manager. “But help is available.” Loan programs include:

Microloan Revolving Loan Fund• to assist start-up or expanding businesses by lending between $500 and $35,000. Eligible uses of funding are for equipment/machinery, inventory, operating capital, fixtures and furniture.Childcare Microloan Program• to provide financing necessary for child care providers to become, or to continue to be, licensed. Loan amounts range from $500 to $5,000 for in-home providers, and up to $25,000 for child care centers.Columbia Regional Economic •

Development Trust (CREDiT) revolving loan program to provide “gap financing” (the portion that a bank won’t fund) for start-up or expanding businesses. Eligible uses of funding are for real estate costs, machinery and equipment, contingency reserves, working and start-up capital and infrastructure costs.

Dickinson serves on the CREDiT board of directors and says that Benton-Franklin Council of Governments has loan program staff members available to assist businesses in preparing loan application materials. For more information about these programs, contact Dickinson at the Port of Columbia at (509) 382-2577.

New Assistant Joins Dayton Chamber

Linze Purcell with Harley the office dog.


Feature Story

Don't Be a Scrooge - Go See "A Christmas Carol"

Ebenezer Scrooge darkened the lives of the Cratchett family nearly 200 years ago in Victorian England. But he will light up the stage this fall at the Liberty Theater. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is this year’s fall musical presented by Touchet

Valley Arts Council Productions. Nine performances will be held, from November 18th through December 3rd.

“A Christmas Carol” is co-directed by Mike Ferrians and Brenda Chapman. It combines a stage play of the Dickens novel with a collection of old English Christmas carols sung by the cast. The lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge will be performed by Dr. Kyle Terry of Waitsburg. Morgan Boggs, of Dayton, will play Tiny Tim.

The script for TVAC Productions’ “A Christmas Carol” is an adaptation written by Ferrians and Chapman. This is the first TVAC Productions musical that uses an original, locally written script, rather than one purchased from a national publisher. “Dickens’ novel is in the public domain,” says Ferrians, “so we’re able to present our interpretation of the story without paying royalties or purchasing a script.” Creating its own script will save TVAC Productions thousands of dollars, the directors say.

During performances, the cast of the Liberty Theater production will sing such well-known carols as “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen”, “I Saw Three Ships”, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and many others. Dance routines are choreographed by Dayton’s Kim Carter.

Last year’s revival of “The Music Man” was the tenth fall Musical at the Liberty Theater. In January, when it came time to plan number 11, Ferrians and Chapman got the idea to write their own script for “A Christmas Carol”. “Each of the previous musicals used a purchased script from a well-known Broadway production,” says Chapman. “We thought it was time to go in a little different direction.”

Chapman grew up mostly in Dayton and has taught in the Dayton schools for 18 years. Ferrians has been pastor of the First Christian Church in Waitsburg for the past 21 years. He is a native of Spokane. Ferrians and Chapman have both been involved in several of the previous fall musicals in Dayton. Ferrians played the male lead last year in “The Music Man”.

Ferrians and his wife, Melissa, have been organizers and leaders of “Salt and Light”, which is a choral group of middle and high school age youth who travel each year to perform. 2012 will be their 15th anniversary, and they will travel to the San Francisco Bay area for a week in June.

Ferrians and Chapman say that even though “A Christmas Carol” is based on a book, it’s a natural for adaptation to a musical production. “A Christmas Carol” is a short novel, with only five chapters. “Dickens called his book a ‘carol’ and he called the chapters ‘staves’,” says Ferrians. “Staves are verses in a song, so he clearly had a piece of music in mind when he wrote this.” q

Story and photos by Ken Graham


Feature Story

Don't Be a Scrooge - Go See "A Christmas Carol"

Last year’s revival of “The Music Man” was the tenth fall Musical at the Liberty Theater. In January, when it came time to plan number 11, Ferrians and Chapman got the idea to write their own script for “A Christmas Carol”. “Each of the previous musicals used a purchased script from a well-known Broadway production,” says Chapman. “We thought it was time to go in a little different direction.”

Chapman grew up mostly in Dayton and has taught in the Dayton schools for 18 years. Ferrians has been pastor of the First Christian Church in Waitsburg for the past 21 years. He is a native of Spokane. Ferrians and Chapman have both been involved in several of the previous fall musicals in Dayton. Ferrians played the male lead last year in “The Music Man”.

Ferrians and his wife, Melissa, have been organizers and leaders of “Salt and Light”, which is a choral group of middle and high school age youth who travel each year to perform. 2012 will be their 15th anniversary, and they will travel to the San Francisco Bay area for a week in June.

Ferrians and Chapman say that even though “A Christmas Carol” is based on a book, it’s a natural for adaptation to a musical production. “A Christmas Carol” is a short novel, with only five chapters. “Dickens called his book a ‘carol’ and he called the chapters ‘staves’,” says Ferrians. “Staves are verses in a song, so he clearly had a piece of music in mind when he wrote this.” q

Counter clockwise from left: Morgan Boggs portrays the crippled Tiny Tim Cratchett. Some of the young townspeople try out their new clothes in front of the unfinished backdrop. Director Mike Ferrians rehearses with Jan Cronkhite and Dena Wood. Brenda Chapman (right) positions a young dancer as choreographer Kim Carter looks on. Dr. Kyle Terry rehearses as Ebenezer Scrooge.

"A Christmas Carol"Friday, November 18, 7 p.m. (All tickets $10)Saturday, November 19, 7 p.m.Sunday, November 20, 3 p.m.Wednesday, November 23, 7 p.m.Saturday, November 26, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.Sunday, November 27, 3 p.m.Friday, December 2, 7 p.m.Saturday, December 3, 3 p.m.

Tickets available at the theater or online atwww.libertytheater.org.

Ticket Prices $12 - $20 except as noted above.

The Liberty Theater, 344 E. Main St., Dayton, WA(509) 382-1380


Events CalendarOctober31, MondayMovie: Army of Darkness7:30 p.m.The Liberty Theater344 E. Main St., Dayton(509) 382-1380

Mace Mead Works is sponsoring a Halloween screening of the tongue-in-cheek horror flick Army of Darkness at the Liberty Theater Halloween night, Oct. 31st at 7:30pm followed by a Happy Hour Halloween Party at Mace Mead Works 9pm to midnight. Visit LibertyTheater.org for ticket information.

November1, Tuesday Concert: “Autumn Fanfare”7:30 p.m.Walla Walla SymphonyCordiner Hall at Whitman College, Walla Walla

Concert features the world premier performance of a work by the Symphony’s Principal Trumpet, William Berry, titled “fanTAStic! A Celebration of 25 Fantastic Years,” composed in honor of Maestro Yaacov Bergman’s 25th Anniversary with the Symphony. Also featured is a tuba concerto by Edward Gregson, with Torrey Lawrence, tuba, and Saint Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, known as the “organ” symphony, with organist Kraig Scott. Tickets available online at www.wwsymphony.org, by calling the Symphony office at (509)

529-8020, or at the Symphony office at 13-1/2 E. Main, Suite 201. Tickets are also available at the door.

4, Friday Art by L. A. Fairbanks5-7 p.m.Mace Mead Works250 E. Main St., Dayton(509) 540-0000

Walla Walla artist L. A. Fairbanks is showcasing a collection of her prints and photography at Mace Mead Works through the month of November. There will be a special reception with the artist from 5-7pm.

5, SaturdayLive Music: The Lentil Bros.8 p.m.Mace Mead Works250 E. Main St., Dayton(509) 540-0000

The hometown folk duet of Molly Weppler and Abby Chapman bring their sweet harmonies and melodic folk sounds to the Mace Mead Works stage once again.

7, MondayCommunity Open House5 – 7 p.m.Delany Room at Dayton Memorial Library111 S. Third Street, Dayton

The Dayton Development Task Force invites the public to review the proposed long-term plan for the Commercial Street Corridor. This will be the last chance to give input to the consulting team before the final drawings are made. At a later date, ideas will be prioritized for potential implementation. Call Marcene Hendrickson at (509) 382-4860 for more information.

11, FridayVeterans Breakfast7 – 10 a.m.Dayton American Legion Hall211 E. Clay St., Dayton

Open to all veterans and their family and friends. Breakfast is free. Donations accepted.

Acoustic Jam NightStarts at 6:30 p.m.Skye Book & Brew148 E. Main, Dayton(509) 382-4677

Musicians of all ages come together to make music. Every jam is fresh and exciting. Participate or sit back and enjoy the music.

Time Out for Tea11 a.m. – 1 p.m.Delany Room, Dayton Memorial Library111 S. 3rd Street, Dayton

Ladies are invited for tea, lunch and lots of fun. There is no charge and on-site childcare is provided. Call (509) 382-2248 for more information.

Live Music: Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue6 – 8 p.m.Tuxedo Bar and GrillPrescott (509) 849-2244

12, SaturdayLive Music: Daergan Guy8 p.m.Mace Mead Works250 E. Main St., Dayton(509) 540-0000

Fast becoming known for his heartbreaker bluegrass for the modern man, singer-songwriter Daergan Guy recently migrated to Dayton and has left a mark on our local music scene.

Live Music: Amarillo Band8 p.m. – midnightTuxedo Bar and GrillPrescott (509) 849-2244

16, WednesdayChristian Women’s Connection (CWC) Lunch & Auction11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Seneca Activity Center, Dayton

Guest speaker: Sue Ann Haberly, Cottage Grove, Ore. Topic: “Time for Action”.

Please help by donating any new or good quality used items and bring them to the November 16th luncheon. Items will be used for annual Silent Auction, with proceeds going to Stonecroft Ministries.

For reservations, call Judy Jackson at (509) 399-2005. Cost: $10. Catered by Ruth Shearer. Child Care provided.

18, Friday -3, DecemberFall Musical: "A Christmas Carol"The Liberty Theater344 E. Main St., Daytonwww.libertytheater.org(509) 382-1380

This year's TVAC Productions fall musical is an adaptation of the DIckens classic written by directors Mike Ferrians and Brenda Chapman. See feature article on page 8 for more information.

19, Saturday25th Annual Turkey Bingo4 – 9 p.m. (Doors open at 3:00)Dayton Elementary School Multi-purpose Room

Hard cards $1. Black-out flimsies $0.50. Bring one item for the food bank and receive one flimsie free (maximum five). All bingo winners receive a turkey. Sponsored by Dayton Kiwanis Club. Proceeds support local youth programs.

Live Music: Heather Stearns8 p.m.Mace Mead Works250 E. Main St., Dayton(509) 540-0000

A true renaissance woman, Heather Stearns fulfills the duties as your friendly Dayton Memorial librarian by day and prolific author, poet, and ukelele wielding folk songstress by night! Catch her latest batch of original music.

Livestock Judging Clinic9 a.m. – noonWaitsburg Fairgrounds

The annual Waitsburg Livestock Judging Clinic provides an opportunity for 4-H and FFA members to judge the conformation of horses, beef, dairy, swine, sheep and goats. Team judging is encouraged. Participants receive free lunch after judging, courtesy of the Walla Walla Cattlemen’s Association. For additional information, and to RSVP large groups, please contact Jim Burres at (509) 337-6545.


Black and White Ball6 p.m.Walla Walla SymphonyMarcus Whitman Hotel, Walla Walla

A three-course dinner by Chef Antonio Campolio with wine pairings by Northstar will be featured at the Walla Walla Symphony’s Black and White Ball. This fundraising event will be a celebration of Maestro Yaacov Bergman’s 25 th season with the Walla Walla Symphony. Admission is $85 per person. Reservations are required and can be purchased online at www.wwsymphony.org or by calling the Symphony office at 509-529-8020. They are also available at the Symphony office at 13-1/2 E. Main, Suite 201.

Karaoke Night8 p.m. – midnightTuxedo Bar and GrillPrescott (509) 849-2244

19, 20, Sat./Sun.All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast8 a.m. – 11 a.m.Prescott Community Center

Enjoy a hearty, home-cooked breakfast and help raise money for the Prescott community. Lions Club members will be cooking up a feast of eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, sausage, bacon and more. Cost is $5.99.

24, ThursdayCommunity Thanksgiving DinnerNoon – 2 p.m.Redeemer Lutheran Church601 S. Third St., Dayton

A full Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmings will be served to anyone in the community who wants to show up and enjoy a delicious meal and fellowship. Plates to-go for shut-ins will also be available. Donations of food, funds or volunteer labor are gladly accepted. If you plan to attend, please call ahead so enough food will be prepared. Organizer Kathy Jacobson can be reached at (509) 382-1452.

American Legion Legion Hall, 211 E. Clay, Dayton 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Blue Mountain Artists' GuildDelany Room at Dayton Memorial Library, 111 S. 3rdMeredith at 509-382-2372 Last Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

Blue Mountain Heritage SocietyDelany Room at Dayton Memorial Library, 111 S. 3rd Contact Elizabeth Thorn at (509) 382-48202nd Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Columbia County CommissionersCommissioners’ Chambers 3rd Floor, County Courthouse, Dayton. Call (509) 382-45421st and 3rd Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and 4th Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Columbia County Fair Board Youth Building at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, Dayton3rd Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Columbia County Fire District #3 CommissionersFire District #3 Station 206 W. Main St, Dayton Call (509) 382-42812nd and 4th Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Columbia County Levee RoundtableDayton City Hall 111 S. 1st St, DaytonLast Friday at 10:00 a.m.

Columbia County Livestock AssociationColumbia County Fairgrounds Youth Building Randy James (509) 382-27601st Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Columbia County Motorcycle ClubDayton D.O.T Building Contact Bret Harting for more information. (509) 382-46022nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m

Columbia County Planning Commission County Planning Office 2nd and 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Columbia County Rural Library District BoardDayton Memorial Library 111 S 3rd St, Dayton Call (509) 382-41313rd Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Columbia County Shooting SocietyAmerican Legion Bldg.,Dayton, (509) 382-31893rd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

Dayton AA GroupFirst Congregational Church, 214 S. 3rd St. Tuesday & Thursday at 7:00 p.m. & Wed. at noon

Dayton City CouncilDayton City Hall 111 S. 1st St, Dayton Call (509) 382-23612nd and 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Dayton City Planning CommissionDayton City Hall 111 S 1st St, Dayton 3rd Monday at 5:15 p.m.

Dayton Development Task Force BoardThe General Store W. Main St, Dayton 4th Wednesday at noon

Dayton Historic Preservation CommissionDayton City Hall 111 S 1st St, Dayton 2nd Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

Dayton High School Alumni AssociationSand Trap Restaurant 3rd ThursdayDinner at 6:00 p.m.Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Dayton High School BoostersDayton High School Library 1st Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Dayton KiwanisDelany Room at Dayton Memorial Library 111 S Third St, Dayton 1st & 3rd Thurs. at Noon

Dayton Lions ClubDelany Room at Dayton Memorial Library,111 S. 3rd Contact Terry Hoon (509) 386-88891st and 3rd Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

Dayton School BoardAdministration Building 609 S. 2nd St, Dayton Call (509) 382-25431st and 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Dayton Young Life227 N. Cherry2nd & 4th Mondays at 7:17 p.m.

Dayton WyldlifeDayton Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room 302 E. Park St, Dayton3rd Friday at 7:00 p.m.

Friends of the Dayton Memorial LibraryDayton Memorial Library 111 S 3rd St, Dayton 4th Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

Friends of the Prescott LibraryDayton Memorial Library 103 S D St, Prescott 3rd Tuesday

Port of Columbia CommissionersPort Office 1 Port Way, Dayton 2nd Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Prescott City CouncilPrescott City Hall 101 S D Street, Prescott Call (509) 849-22622nd Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Prescott Community ClubPrescott Lions Hall (509) 849-2892 Second Thursday at 2:00 p.m.

Prescott Fire CommissionersCall Tim Mayberry for info:(509) 849-2262

Prescott Lions ClubCall Chris Scudder (509) 849-2478

Prescott Parks & Rec. District Board Community Center of the Lion’s Hall, corner of D St. & Hwy 124, Prescott. For more information contact Joan Tatum at (509) 849-2690.2nd Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Prescott School BoardLast Thursday, 7:00 p.m.

Starbuck City CouncilStarbuck City Hall 200 Main St, Starbuck Call (509) 399-21002nd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

Starbuck School Board Starbuck School Library 717 Tucannon, Starbuck4th Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) DaytonDayton Methodist Church 110 S. 3rd St, DaytonEvery Tuesday at 8:45 a.m.

Touchet Valley Men's Golf ClubTouchet Valley Golf Course Clubhouse, Dayton Call (509) 382-40101st and 3rd Thursday 6:30 p.m.

Waitsburg City CouncilLions Memorial Building Call (509) 337-63713rd Wednesday7:00 p.m.

Waitsburg Commercial ClubYe Towne Hall, Waitsburg (509) 337-65331st and 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Waitsburg Historical Society Call Jeff Broom for more information: (509) 337-6688

Waitsburg Legion and AuxiliaryFor location information call Ike and B.A Keve at (509) 337-6546First Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Waitsburg Lions ClubLions Memorial Building Scott Branson, President(509) 337-88952nd & 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Waitsburg School BoardPreston Hall, Main St2nd and 4th Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.

VFW Post 5549 Legion Hall, 211 E. Clay, Dayton Contact Jerry Berg at (509) 382-4525 3rd Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

MEETINGS

Continuedon Page 12


Events News Brief

Teen Movie MatineeSaturday, November 18th

3-5 p.m.

Adult Basic Computer ClassTuesdays: 10 - 11 a.m.

Space is limited to 9 participants-come early.

Preschool StorytimeMondays: 2:30 - 3:15 p.m.

Storytime and crafts for children ages 3-6.

Toddler StorytimeTuesdays: 11 - 11:30 a.m.

Fun and deve lopmenta l l y -appropriate interactive activities for children ages 18 months to 3 years.

Infant StorytimeTuesdays: 11:30 - 11:45 a.m.

Simple activities to help develop infants' and crawlers' listening and pre-language skills.

Participate in the regional Everybody Reads program by reading Blue Heaven by C.J. Box. Plan to meet C.J. Box in person. Dates and times available at the library.

This Month atThe Dayton

Memorial Library

111 S. 3rd Street(509) 382-4131

Thank You for Reading

Blue Mountain News

25-26, Fri./Sat.Christmas Kickoff CelebrationDayton, “The Town That Still Believes”, kicks off the holiday season with a two-day celebration downtown. Highlights include shopping, dining, mule-drawn hayrides, lighted parade, fireworks and lighted home tour and contest. See ad on back page for more information.

25, FridayLive Music: The Lentil Bros. Christmas Special!4-6 p.m. & 7-9 p.m.Mace Mead Works250 E. Main St., Dayton(509) 540-0000

Your favorite young folk duet will bring a special performance of Holiday music for Christmas Kick-off weekend. They will play from 4-6pm, break for the Lighted Parade, and reconvene with their beautiful harmonies all evening.

A Christmas Story: The MovieNoon & 3 p.m.The Liberty Theater344 E. Main St., Dayton(509) 382-1380

The 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story returns to the Liberty Theater for two Friday matinees Christmas Kick-off weekend. Relive your favorite scenes like the leg lamp incident and Randy's test drive of the Red Ryder BB gun or drop the kids off at the theater and enjoy a holiday on the town.

Oral Health Grant Awarded

In October, the Columbia County Public Health Department received a grant award of $4,000 for its Oral Health Program from the Blue Mountain Community Foundation. This grant will help replace funding from the state of Washington that was lost earlier this year.

The Oral Health Program, administered by the Health Department for the past ten years, provides services to children in the Dayton, Starbuck and Blue Mt. Christian Schools. These services include preschool dental screenings, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade dental sealants, 4th grade dental health education and 5th grade smokeless tobacco education. The Health Department also distributes toothbrushes, dental floss, toothpaste and educational materials via the Immunization and WIC Programs. Approximately 250 children, preschool through 5th grade, have been served annually.

For more information about the Columbia County Public Health Department’s Oral Health Program, contact Joan McMunn at (509) 382-2181.


Books

That’s the question I asked of several friends recently. I glean book reviews and recommendations from a variety of sources, including People magazine, Good

Reads, Amazon and other online services, but nothing beats the giddy rush I get from hearing a fellow reader gush about a new favorite book. I sent an email to a diverse group of friends recently, asking for book recommendations that I could share with readers of Blue Mountain News. The result was three very different books, all of which I’ve added to my personal “to read” list.

Carolyn Laib is a busy farmer’s wife. She drives tractor, rides horses, leads a 4H group with her husband, John, and keeps up with the activities of four children and so much more. Needless to say, her reading time is extremely limited,

so when Carolyn recommends a book, I know it’s going to be a good one, because only really great books are allowed to commandeer precious time in her busy life.

Carolyn recommends The Art of Racing in the Rain by Seattle author Garth Stein. The narrator is a dog named Enzo who is completely devoted to his owner, semi-pro race driver Denny Swift.

As he nears death, Enzo takes stock of his life. Carolyn says, “This book

makes you laugh and cry and you will never look at your dog the same again. Ever since I read this book I've wished my dogs could talk to me. I would love to know what they are thinking sometimes.” Me too.

My friend, Diane Longanecker, has an insatiable appetite for learning. She doesn’t read fluff. I go to Diane for recommendations of books that stretch and exercise my middle-aged, atrophying brain cells. Diane writes, “Published in 2010, Madison and Jefferson reveals the complex, human-level process of what was really going on during the early years of our American republic. Written by Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg, this book follows the 50-year friendship of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.

Numerous quotes from Madison and Jefferson themselves, as well as from those with whom they interacted, make for a rich narrative that allowed me to better realize just how turbulent and fragile the process of creating our country - and its government - actually was.

With many complex sentences, each jam-packed with information, this book is not a light read. However, for those with a good background in early American history, Madison and Jefferson provides a rewarding opportunity to savor a deeper, more comprehensive look at our country's early history.”

I’m intrigued and just a little intimidated by this book. I have a basic understanding of early American history which I’m sure is the abridged Cliff Notes version of our country’s

rich and complex heritage. Perhaps it’s time I learned more about our government’s beginnings in order to constructively engage the present and help shape the future.

Library manager, Sue Hagfeldt, is a veritable fount of book recommendations. She never fails to have a bevy of book titles ready to recommend, which is supremely helpful to library patrons. She reads a little of everything - well, maybe not everything - so her recommendations are varied and passionate. Sue and I had a lively conversation about Still Alice ,written by neuroscientist turned best-selling author Lisa Genova. This well-researched work of fiction gives the reader

an intimate first-person window into Alice’s life and thoughts as she decends into Alzheimer’s. Sue says, “You’d think that this book would be depressing, but it’s not. After reading it, I found that I wasn’t afraid of Alzheimer’s anymore. I also gained insight into how to deal with folks with Alzheimer’s.”

According to one online medical fact site, there may be as many as 5.1 million Americans with Alzheimer’s currently. Chances are you know someone with Alzheimer’s or similar dementia. Sounds like a must read to me. Thanks Sue. q

Read Any Good Books Lately?By Tanya Patton


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Martha loves Halloween. It says so right on her website, www.marthastewart.com. And how could she not, with all the decorations and treats she gets

to show off on her site and on her TV show. Personally, when it comes to Halloween, I can take it or leave it. But Martha’s a lot more enthusiastic about most things than I am.

Since I like to think I have pretty good taste, I took a run through her website to see if my good taste stands up to hers. It doesn’t. I learned that, besides Halloween, Martha loves all kinds of other things, and most of them are a complete puzzle to me. Here are a few examples:

Martha loves Dian von Furstenberg and Tory Burch. •Apparently they are clothing designers.Martha also loves the buttery texture and rich flavor of •award-winning Green Hill cheese.And she loves Hemingway muddlers. I can understand •that. These are little wooden clubs you use to smash the mint leaves in your mojitos. That was one of Ernest’s favorite drinks. Martha loves the delicate beauty and local sensibility of •the unique neighborhood scenes captured in Emily Falco's charming, handmade watercolor postcards. Whatever.Martha also loves how simple it is to create vibrant and •charming color combinations using Happytape. “This decorative tape is too striking to resist,” says her website. I wouldn’t even try.Martha loves the way Frederic Fekkai •shampoo and conditioner keep her hair soft, silky, and shiny. I’m guessing Martha also loves collecting all the fees she gets for telling other people what she loves.

After reading all this, if I told you Martha Stewart and I have a lot in common, you’d probably choke on your mojito. But I found a list on her website called “Things You Might Not

Know About Martha Stewart” and I discovered that, despite all the pretentious stuff she says about the products she’s peddling, I could actually almost be her. Here it is – all the words in italics are direct quotes:

Martha is an insomniac and watches lots of late-night and •cable-access television. Hey, me too.Martha has a special language she uses only with animals.• Ditto. I’ll bet mine’s got more cuss words than hers though.Her favorite scent? Unscented!• Yup.Martha loves Post-Its, and leaves notes for herself -- and •others -- all over the house and office. She's even been known to color coordinate them with the decor. Well, mine are all yellow and they mostly just get lost in the mess on my desk, but, you know…She's been known to stand in front of an open refrigerator •and drink buttermilk straight from the carton and eat pickles right out of the jar. It’s like I have a twin.If you are lucky enough to be invited to Skylands, her home •in Maine, the 5 a.m. hikes are mandatory. If you show up at my house there’s a good chance you’ll be taking a hike a lot sooner than that.She's a big fan of rapper Eminem.• Yeah, I’ve also been known to lie so that I’ll sound hipper than I really am.

Martha’s got Halloween down, of course. She makes bat decorations out of ripped up black umbrellas. And she makes “bedeviled eggs” and “candy creatures”. And here’s my favorite: She makes beer coolers out of pumpkins. What a great idea! No need to cut a silly face in the side; just hollow the sucker out and fill it with ice. And if it breaks apart, you can always put it back together with Happytape. q

One More Thing . . .

Martha and MeBy Ken Graham

Happy Halloween!

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Blue Mountain News - November 2011