Five Cool Things to Observe During the Eclipse

Original publication, Methow Valley News, 9 Aug 2017

If you have not heard the news, something exciting is coming to our way – a solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. The Methow Valley will experience a partial eclipse, while many people will be traveling to neighboring states Oregon and Idaho to experience the total eclipse.

The Bear Fight Institute will hold a community presentation at the Trails End Bookstore this Saturday, August 12, starting at 3:00 pm. Scientists from the Bear Fight Institute will give a presentation about the solar eclipse, and student interns will be on hand to demonstrate how to make your own eclipse projector to safely view the solar eclipse.

Before the full eclipse while the moon is partially coving the sun, stand in the shade of a tree on a sidewalk or other light colored, flat, surface. Hundreds of crescent images of the partially covered Sun will be dancing in the shade. The gaps between the tree leaves act like a pinhole camera by projecting the Sun’s image on the ground. This is a safe way to view all the partial phases of the eclipse without damaging your eyes.

The darkest part of the Moon’s shadow, the umbra, will dramatically race across the ground just before and after totality. From a mountaintop, or high vantage point, the view of the umbra racing across the landscape is breathtaking.

Four planets can be seen during the eclipse, when the sky is dark as night. The brightest planet, Venus, will be to the west of the Sun. Also on the west side, slightly dimmer, will be the red planet Mars.  To the east the Sun will be Mercury and Jupiter. Jupiter is the second-brightest planet and is located south east of the Sun.

The corona is the outer edge of our star, the Sun. As the moon slides between earth and sun, the hot plasma of the corona is visible around the moon. The shape of the corona is created by magnetic activity on the solar surface and the interaction of the hot plasma with the magnetic field. 
There is no available technology to map the magnetic field in the corona at resolutions comparable to those details seen during a total solar eclipse - scientists across the nation will be busy studying the corona during the eclipse!

Shadow Bands are probably the most difficult phenomena to observe during a solar eclipse. They are not easy to capture in video. Sixty to 90 seconds before and after the moon totally covers the sun, look closely at a flat light-colored surface around you. Dark lines called shadow bands race back and forth across the light-colored surfaces. These shadowy lines are cast by the mountains valleys of the Moon’s contoured rim.

Stay safe during the eclipse, looking directly at the sun will permanently damage the eye within seconds. Use only certified eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers. Sunglasses are not safe for looking at the Sun. While using eclipse glasses do not look at the Sun through a camera, telescope, or any other optical device — the concentrated solar rays will cause serious eye injury.

For more information and activities, visit http://science.nasa.gov. Follow the Bear Fight Institute on facebook to catch fun tips and facts about our solar system.

Pateros Apple Pie Jamboree

Original publication, Methow Valley News, 12 July 2017

“Well, Twisp had a rodeo, Brewster had a derby, and Pateros had to have something too, so they started the Apple Pie Jamboree,” Bill Meadows leaned back in his kitchen chair, remembering the summer of 1947. Phil and Joan Brownlee joined in, describing the Indian stick games, live music, parade, and the apple pie. “It started out as a community picnic,” Joan explained.

Bill, Phil, and Joan all graduated from Pateros High School together in 1954. They can remember every single Apple Pie Jamboree – in part because they all have helped in some way or another in every event since the beginning. Joan has kept scrapbooks of the APJ over the years, which are on display at the Pateros museum.

The original bylaws of the APJ state that all event proceeds are to support the youth of Pateros. Proceeds from the first APJ went to the hospital. One year, a young boy drowned in the mill pond. In response, the community committed the proceeds from the APJ to pay for swimming lessons for all of the kids in Pateros. Over the years, APJ proceeds have supported swimming and ski lessons, lights on the sports field, fair projects, summer camps, and more.

The cataclysmic flood of 1948 put the APJ on hold until 1950. APJ had a good run for the next seven years until 1957, when the subject of water again overwhelmed the community. Talks had begun about building Wells Dam, a project that would create Lake Pateros and drown the town. It was a time of tense arguments in Pateros. The townspeople spent the decade relocating. Main Street, the site of past APJ parades, was at the bottom of Lake Pateros.

In 1969, Bill started up the APJ again with the help of friends. Putting the new lake to good use, they brought hydro races to the APJ. By the 80s, Phil, Joan and Bill’s wife, Rebecca, joined in the APJ planning with other volunteers for the next two decades.

Some years, things didn’t quite go as planned. Take, for instance, the year they imagined 16 water skiers wearing shirts that spelled A-P-P-L-E P-I-E-J-A-M-B-O-R-E-E. “It took us two weeks of practice,” Bill started, “we couldn’t find enough skiers that could stay up in the turbulence behind the boat!” He laughed, “Never tried that again!”

Joan recalled sitting around the kitchen table one Sunday afternoon counting out small bills and change from the day’s events. The community had given over $30,000. “Every drop went to the youth of Pateros,” said Rebecca, “there were no vendors, and everything was done by volunteers.”

Typically, on Monday through Wednesday before APJ, the community gathered together to clean up the town. Volunteers, including kids, would meet at the school kitchen to assemble hundreds of apple pies. “Everybody worked so hard for the kids, it was so worth it,” Rebecca said, “and it was the one time of year everyone got together.” Joan went into further detail about the multiple class reunions that had become a tradition of the APJ, “It was a big thing to see your classmates and get together.”

The Pateros tradition of raising funds to support youth programs continues this weekend, starting with apple pie and ice cream in the park on Friday at 6 pm. Saturday is packed with a Color Run, 3 0n 3 basketball tournament, live music, parade, quilt show, jet ski races, sloppy joes, fireworks and more. Sunday wraps up with breakfast in the park, volleyball tournament, and a car show. For information and event schedule, visit https://www.facebook.com/ApplePieJamboree. Come join the fun, and support kids programs in Pateros!

How the ACA affected me

Original publication, Methow Valley News, July 26, 2017

Pateros Community Resource Center is offering free seminars for everyone to better understand the basics of healthcare options, coverage, and insurance. The resource center is also offering seminars for understanding Medicare. The seminars will be held at the Pateros Brewster Community Resource Center, 169 Pateros Mall, Suite A, Pateros, Washington. A question and answer period will follow each the presentation. Call Grace Larsen at 509.670.1381 for more information.

“Learning the Basics of Your Healthcare Options” seminar is scheduled at 6 p.m. on August 24th, September 21st, and October 12th.

“Understanding Medicare” seminars are scheduled at 6 p.m. on July 26th, August 23rd, September 20th, and October 11th.

Before the Affordable Care Act, I had health insurance through my job at a major tech company. Although I had insurance, there were so many out-of-pocket expenses, I really wondered what the heck my health coverage actually covered. Insurance did not cover the prescription drugs or the yearly exams I needed. I never met the high deductibles with my simple needs and each doctor visit easily resulted in over a hundred dollars.  Sometimes I put off going to the doctor because it was winter and my heating bill was high, there was no way I could pay a doctor bill and an electric bill that month. Simple infections at times grew into serious problems, leading to lost work hours and missed deadlines.

Then, I had a real medical emergency. Emergency room, expensive tests, the multi-day hospital stay, and surgery were all ‘covered’ by insurance, but only up to a certain amount for each bill, each test, and each drug. There were no ‘life choices’ that created this problem. I exercised, I ate healthy, I lived a clean lifestyle, I had a good job with benefits, and none of these decisions prevented a hereditary malfunction that cost tens of thousands of dollars.

I missed work during my weeks of illness and recovery. The company used all my vacation and sick time for most of my paycheck, but a few weeks were paid out at a reduced rate. Thankfully, I still had a job to return to after my recovery. I was lucky that I only had myself to feed, and not a family. An experience like mine is what knocks working families off their feet, and drains local economies.

Two years ago, my body required another surgery and months of physical therapy. The experience was far more financially manageable, thanks to the ACA. The deductibles were affordable and the care was fully covered.

I’m thankful for the ACA. My prescription drug costs dropped dramatically, my yearly cancer screenings are covered, and I don’t have to choose between treating a sinus infection and an oil change. Affordable care benefits entire communities in multiple ways by controlling health care costs and offering coverage for preventative services that keep people healthy.

With all this political rhetoric about health care and an uncertain future, knowing about available options is important. The seminars at the Pateros Brewster Community Resource Center on health insurance and medicare are free, informative, and at only one night, easy to work into busy schedules. Call Grace Larsen at 509.670.1381 for more information.

Pateros Annual Salmon Bake and Cultural Celebration

 The Annual Salmon Bake and Cultural Celebration gave back to the community this weekend with music, art, and delicious food. Proceeds from the event benefit community support programs offered by the Resource Center. For more information about the Resource Center in Pateros, visit www.crcpb.org. As a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are tax deductible.

As large fillets of fresh caught Copper River salmon sizzled over the new salmon bake oven, visitors strolled around the new Methow Monument, posing for photos by the teepee and fishing sculptures. Elsewhere in the park, people visited under shade trees while enjoying music by Arnold Cleveland and friends.

Kids sat around the Arts and crafts table, practicing different beading styles they learned from Linda Saint. Linda teaches arts and crafts to

residential students living in the dorms at the Pascal Sherman Indian School located in Omak. “I’m the Dorm Mom,” she laughed. Linda is also known for her intricate beadwork, which was also on display at the cultural celebration.

Baskets, hats, and pouches woven from native plants could be found at the Sinkietqu Okanogan Basket Weavers booth. Elaine Emerson Timentwa talked about how she uses wild cherry bark and bear grass to weave traditional symbols into cedar root baskets. “My mother used this pattern to show pit houses,” she explained as she ran her finger along the design, “here was the door, and there the ladder.”

Arnold Cleveland took a break from entertaining the crowd to talk about different flutes he had brought along. His favorite was carved from walnut burl with delicate inlays of turquoise. Another flute resembled a rifle, and ended with a rubber stopper. “This one here I got from an Apache who would sit and play, and then use it as a cane.” The flutes were laid out on a white table covered in colorful sketches. When asked about the table, he said, "This is when I biked across America!” A marathon runner who has always been active, Arnold turned 70 years old and decided to go for a lengthy ride. He started in southern California and biked up the coast to Newport, Oregon. From there, Arnold continued east to Maine. Gail Price, Arnold’s musical partner, drove the support vehicle. “Whenever we stopped, Gail would haul out the table and draw a picture of what we saw that day."

Courtesy of Cheryl Grunlose Artist Facebook Page

Artist Cheryl Grunlose was on hand to show off her stunning ledger art. Drawing upon her family’s collection of traditional regalia, and her graphic design training, Cheryl creates colorful tableaus on early 1900s printed records. Speaking about her path as an artist, Cheryl spoke as a military vet with multiple degrees in art history, museumology, and business, “When I started, there were doors shut to me, but I didn’t care. I kept going. You have to love art.”  

Stan Gough from Eastern Washington University manned the archaeology booth. Large posters showed images from excavated village sites from around the region dating back to 10,000 years ago.

In other news, the Restawhile is looking to hire summer-time help. Anyone interested in a Pateros High School Class of 1957 reunion during Apple Pie Jamboree should email Marlene Miller Kaucher at nanamark@aol.com.  

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.

Native Plants - Senior Project at the Methow Monument

This appeared in the Methow Valley News, Lower Valley column on May 24, 2017

Austin Yancey and Isaac Wall recently completed their native plants senior project at the Methow Monument located in Pateros Memorial Park. The 2017 graduates of Pateros High School chose to research culturally significant plants and complete the planting landscape at the Methow Monument with native trees, bushes, grasses, and ground cover.

“We enjoy being outdoors, and are interested in the plants that we see while we are out hiking,” Austin explained. The Pateros senior is looking into the forestry program offered at Wenatchee Valley College (WVC).

For his senior project, Austin checked in at Pateros city hall to view a list of senior project ideas. He talked with Jord Wilson, Pateros public works superintendent, who had begun work on the layout for the Methow Monument. Knowing Austin’s interest in the outdoors, Jord suggested that he research native plants and create the planting map for the new educational park.

Isaac started out the school year as a junior. Enrolled in Running Start and taking agricultural classes at WVC in addition to classes at Pateros High School, Isaac soon realized that he was on track to graduate a year early if he completed a senior project. Austin and Isaac decided to work together to complete the native plant project at the Methow Monument, as it fell in line with both their academic and career goals.

Isaac’s WVC professor, Bob Gillispie, suggested that the students reach out to Rob Crandall, of Methow Natives nursery in Twisp to learn more about native plants and their cultural significance. At the same time, unbeknownst to Austin and Isaac, Rob had contacted Crystal Miller – member of the design team for the Methow Monument – to offer a donation of native plants.

Rob provided Austin and Isaac with a list of native plants to research and planting instructions.  Throughout the winter, the two students researched the cultural significance of the plants and created a plant map for the layout.

“It was amazing to find out that plants have a use and were significant to the native people,” Isaac said, “and to recognize the plants from our time outdoors.” The two friends began to list native plants and their uses. For instance, yarrow can be used to disinfect, stop bleeding, and relieve pain. Pine needles make a nice tea.

To create a plant map, the two met with Jord, who has a master’s degree in landscape architecture, to learn how to make a plant map that features topography of the landscape and visual framing for each plant. Spots were chosen to feature native plants such as choke cherry, mock orange, kinnikinnick, blue bunch wheat grass, and more.

On Arbor day, Austin and Isaac met with Rob to pick up the plants from the Methow Natives nursery in Twisp. “We were able to get them right in the ground, no waiting,” Austin said. “It was hard to find spots for all of them.” The students had planned on forty plants - Rob donated over a hundred.

The two men hope the Methow Monument will “draw more people into town,” and help people, “learn more about native plants,” Isaac said. “In the outdoors, when you’re camping, in an emergency, it’s good to have the knowledge.” As students who experienced the Carlton Complex fires, they hope that people will see the native plants at the monument and recognize the same plants taking root and restoring the surrounding landscape. 

Timeless Views

This appeared in the Methow Valley News, Lower Valley column on May 10, 2017
 

My favorite view of the Methow Valley is in all directions.

Out the kitchen window two gently sloping hillsides greet each other in a gentle embrace, their mantles changing color with each season: winter white, early spring green, blooming balsam yellow, and late summer’s sepia brown.

From the south facing windows the trees bud out a bright green, followed by delicate white blossoms, and finishing with the fiery colors of autumn.

My childhood was spent in a neighborhood of identical tiny boxes, where each house was built to the same plan. The view from the living room was the house across the street, a mirror image of our own. The view out the kitchen window was the backyard neighbor, their windows aligned perfectly with ours.

It was a predictable neighborhood. The newspaper landed with a thump on the front stoop every morning at 6:05. The mailman strode across the lawn at 1:20. Lawn mowers and sprinklers all ran on schedule.

What I love the most about the Methow is that it is unpredictable. Homes are all different and the scenery changes from mile to mile. Sometimes the scenery changes even minute by minute. Creeks swell with rain and snow melt, new channels form, and roadways become disrupted by mudslides.

With the Loup closed, now is a fine time to enjoy the changing views of the lower valley. The orchards are in full bloom. The view won’t last long, just a few weeks, so savor the blooms while they last. Even the Carlton General Store is sporting a clean new look.

With all this ruminating about change, there is something to be said about continuity. I recently spent some time in Peru, walking 40 miles along the Salkantay trail from the village of Mollepata to Machu Picchu. The trail has been in use for thousands of years by people walking in between villages beneath the slopes of Mount Salkantay. Many people passed us by on the trail, their donkeys and horses in obedient lines, necks and saddles festooned in color. The handsome profiles of the riders matched the ancient drawings of the Incas I had seen in text books.

I'm humbled when I meet people who are surrounded by constant reminders of their own great history and knowledge. Being a nation of immigrants, we don’t know the soil we live on as intimately as those who have lost count of the generations born from that earth.

Along the trail, medicinal plant gardens were everywhere, and the locals were well-schooled on the use of botanical treatments for every possible ache and discomfort. Inca walls formed the foundations of relatively newer buildings. At Machu Picchu there were multiple sites where a compass laid upon a stone revealed perfectly aligned corners pointing North, South, East, and West. Shallow bowls filled with water acted as mirrors to view the stars in the night sky, and the path of the sun in the day. 

Celebrating continuity in our own valley, the Methow Monument – celebrating the original Methow people and their descendants who continue to live in the Methow Valley today – is nearing completion. The dedication is scheduled at noon on Saturday, May 27 at the site in the Pateros Memorial Park. Methow descendant Randy Lewis will direct the ceremonies, and artists Smoker Marchand and Bobbi Hall will speak about their artwork at the site.