All the News That's Fit to Print

This article appeared in the Methow Valley News, Lower Valley column on June 14, 2017

The Lower Valley News covers all the news that’s fit to print from Carlton all the way to Pateros.

New at the Carlton General Store, locally made Willow Brook kraut is in stock.

On Libby Creek, something newsworthy happened, but it’s not fit to print.

House guests on Gold Creek fell in love with the Methow Valley while hiking along the Twisp River Trail. After hearing what sounded like small children romping ahead, the tourists met Kyle Northcott and two young trainees. Kyle was training two kids from Sunny Pine Farm to be backcountry packers. No actual child labor was involved.

Someone on Cow Creek made a pie.

It rained on McFarland Creek.

In the town of Methow the restaurant is still closed but the church is open. There’s no diner food, but the town does offer soul food.

A French Creek dog had a birthday.

A big something was stuffed into a small pack along Squaw Creek.

Near Black Canyon, a deer safely crossed the road.

The Restawhile fruit stand and bakery opened for the season.

In Pateros, the Annual Salmon Bake and Cultural Celebration will be Saturday, June 24th, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. in the Pateros Memorial Park. Open booths offer activities including basket weaving, beading, Native flute demonstrations, and more. The raffle and silent auction includes a sculpture by Smoker Marchand and teepees. A traditional Salmon lunch will be prepared on the new Methow Monument salmon bake oven. Cost of lunch is by donation.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Resource Center, a locally based nonprofit organization that provides social services for the community. The Resource Center offers counseling services, aging and adult care services, and disaster case management for people affected by wildfire. Room One is the fiscal sponsor. The Resource Center is a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.crcpb.org, or contact Mark Miller, Board Chair, at (509) 733-1876, or Grace Larsen, Secretary, at (509) 670-1381.

Attention Pateros High School Class of 1957! Anyone interested in meeting for a 60-year class reunion during the Apple Pie Jamboree should email Marlene Miller Kaucher at nanamark@aol.com.  This year’s Apple Pie Jamboree will be held July 14 – 16.

It’s a small world after all … A little bit of the Methow Valley is permanently on display in Boise, Idaho. Perri Howard of Velocity Made Good studios, located at TwispWorks, created “states of flow”, a dynamically sculpted fence line of different textures. The piece was installed last week at Rhodes Skate Park, just in time for the X Games.

The same week of Perri’s art installation, I was also in Boise attending the high school graduation of my eldest niece. Boise High recognized one particular graduate, 90 year old Lawrence Ridenour. In 1944, the Boise High junior was called away to war, and never got to finish high school. The WWII vet was awarded his high school diploma along with the rest of the graduating class of 2017. It is never too late to tie up loose ends.