A River Runs Through It

by Heather Caro on Jul 8, 2011

 

 

 

By Heather Caro

Photos courtesy of Canyon River Ranch

At first glance, the Lodge at Canyon River Ranch, tucked along the Yakima River south of Ellensburg, is reminiscent of any number of luxury destinations. Sweeping architecture and an attentive staff welcome visitors to accommodations loaded with modern amenities. But subtle hints — such as a front-entry reminder to “please remove waders” — suggest this is no ordinary resort.

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Runner’s High

by Heather Caro on Jul 8, 2011

 

By Heather Caro

Photos By Jenny Dagdagan

According to folklore, the term “marathon” comes from the Greek legend of Pheidippides.  As the story goes, Pheidippides, who was fighting at the Battle of Marathon, ran 26.2 miles to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated.  Finally, after running without stopping, he reached his destination and cried, “We won!”

And then he collapsed and died.

Now if you are like me, this raises a few questions about marathons: namely, why would you ever want to run in one?

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Life at Folklife

by Christina McCarthy on May 6, 2011

A variety of performers travel from all over to entertain the crowds.

By Christina McCarthy

File Photos by Andy Sawyer

Quick! No thinking about it. Just say what comes to mind when someone says the words … FOLK MUSIC.

Is it acoustic guitars and harmonicas? Hippies and flower children? Voices with a quaint Southern twang?

If you said yes to any or all of these, that’s not surprising. Folk music’s roots lie in the songs that tell the tales of courage … the music of singer-songwriters, whose souls are just begging to be made into music that must be shared.

But folk music goes even deeper than that, touching on nearly ever other genre of music, as well as other areas of life. For evidence of that, one need go no further than Franklin Park, where the Yakima Folklife Festival has celebrated the wonder, joy and art of — well, all that is folksy, for most of the past 30-some years.

Grass Roots
Back in the early 1970s, when it all began, the event didn’t happen annually. There was just too much going on, and the dedicated volunteers couldn’t quite pull it off every summer. But since the 1980s, the Yakima Folklife Festival has been going (and growing) strong, and this year, from July 8-10, the event celebrates its 29th birthday.

Brian Felix is the current president of the Yakima Folklife Association, and one of the last founders still serving on the association. He’s quick to share what makes this Franklin Park event so special to the area.

“It’s the community,” he maintains, “and the community-driven nature of the organization that has kept the festival — as well as our Winter Concert Series — alive and well.”

The original group just wanted some “good, clean fun for families.” The first festival, held in 1974, “was free to the public and the musicians didn’t get paid,” he says. “People brought food to share, and made sure that everyone was fed. It was a good time, and a pretty good definition of a ‘community event.’”

Today

Felix says it’s that kind of thinking that has kept the festival alive over the years, and many of those original ideas still exist today. The Folklife Festival remains free to the community. Musicians still receive no artist fees (though they do get to sell CDs). Even the Folklife Association remains completely voluntary. “Our theory has been: do the best we can for the musicians, do the best we can for the audience, and everything else will pretty much fall into place. It’s been working now for almost 30 years.”

In other ways, though, the Folklife Festival has grown just as the community has, and it now offers experiences that are sure to please everyone, from music junkies to business people to the kids.

Music and dance now span five separate stages, each carefully designed with professional sound equipment that maximizes music potential, without bleeding sound into the other staging areas. Musicians come from across the U.S. and Canada. Everything from blue grass to salsa to high school rock bands perform, and on Friday and Saturday evenings, seven to 10 downtown Yakima venues are added, each offering free performances with changing performers every hour.

“Truly,” Felix explains, “you can sit at North Town Coffee(house) or Bob’s Keg ‘n Cork and hear five or six different acts for the price of a drink or two. There aren’t many other places around where you can do that. What we have here is really special.”

But That’s Not All!
Today’s Folklife Festival is more than just music. Each year, vendors come from far and near to sell their wares: cookies or ethnic foods, handmade jewelry or pottery are among the items for sale.

Hunger is not an issue at the event. If you’re craving something sweet, there’s baklava, candied apples and homemade scones. For those in need of something a little more savory, the Greek gyros are a hit and are made fresh on the spot. It’s easy to find a cool respite from the July heat, too — with iced espresso drinks, fresh-squeezed lemonade and root beer floats.

Once tummies are topped off, kids can try their hands at many of the activities designed just for the younger set. Ride the kiddie train around the park, cool off with the Yakima Fire Department’s giant water slide, or head inside the Yakima Valley Museum to hang out in the (air-conditioned) Children’s Underground for a spell.

Of particular interest is the Society for Creative Anachronism’s Medieval Faire demonstrations. Chain mail-clad “knights” duel with huge, heavy swords. The society also operates a real forge, where passers-by can watch in fascination as red-hot iron is slowly pounded into fighting weapons.

Though pushing 30, the Yakima Folklife Festival continues to shine as one of the region’s longest lasting, family-friendly events. It continues to improve with age. Whether you enjoy the music and festivities in Franklin Park, or take in the tunes downtown, you’ll want to make sure that you join the party.

Yakima Folklife Festival
July 8-10, 2011
Franklin Park and various downtown Yakima venues
yakimafolklife.org

Here’s just a sample of the live entertainment at this year’s festival:
Stroughmatt Creole Band
Reggie Garrett and the Snake Oil Peddlers
Bye Bye Chinook Band
Pat Moss Blues Band
Wild Coconuts
The Southern Blue Grass Band
The Rod Giles Band
Reggae Allstars
Tracy Spring
Aloha Hawaiian Band
The Irish Green Celtic Band
Locust Street Taxi
Brandan Wise
Dan Mahre on Inland Folk

…and a list of the downtown venues for 2011
Bob’s Keg n Cork
Kana Winery
Bill’s Place
Sports Center
North Town Coffeehouse
Russillo’s

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Spring Chickens

by Heather Caro on Mar 4, 2011

By Heather Caro

Photos by Jennifer Dagdagan

Pop quiz: What’s smaller than a breadbox, is a natural at pest control and provides fertilizer for the garden too? Need a hint? It supplies an almost daily source of nutritious, versatile food and is also hardy enough to thrive in most conditions with little maintenance.

If you guessed the chicken, you may already know why raising backyard poultry is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States.

Thousands of people across the U.S. are already enjoying the benefits of fresh eggs from backyard birds – and Yakima is no exception. Today, we offer a peek inside a few local coops to discover the hows and whys of keeping chickens.

Poultry Paradise

Three years ago, if someone had told Selah resident Amy Jaussaud that she and her husband, Steve, would eventually be the proud owners of more than 150 feathered friends, she probably would have scoffed at the prospect. But as Jaussaud, 35, opens the gate of their enclosed, partially treed “chicken yard,” spanning ¾-acre of their rural property, it’s clear she has taken to the idea.

Chickens of all sizes and color quickly gather in hopes of scoring a few kitchen scraps – and Jaussaud does not disappoint. As she crumbles a slice of bread, Jaussaud introduces the birds by name and describes their personalities the way some people would their children.

“They are so fun to watch,” says Jaussaud, “and my husband loves fresh eggs.”

By springtime, these pampered poultry will supply Jaussaud’s family of five with 6-8 dozen eggs each day, which are then shared with family, friends and co-workers. And thanks to ornamental chicken varieties – such as the Araucana – which lay green and blue eggs, Jaussaud’s cartons are as colorful as her birds.

“There are so many cool breeds, but you have to order 25 (chicks) at a time,” laughs Jaussaud, as she describes shopping from specialty hatchery catalogs.  “It just amassed more quickly than we expected.”

Au Natural

Which came first – the free-range egg or better health? Dr. Soren Singel, 40, a neurosurgeon who practices locally, is trying to find the answer to this question by utilizing farming methods designed to increase the nutritional value of food.

“I’m a physician, but I can only heal one person at a time,” says Singel. However, he says it was the nutritional courses he took while still in medical school that inspired his dedication to organic gardening and chicken farming – and that knowledge allows him to impact the health of a larger population. “You can really help thousands of people at a time,” explains Singel. “The scale of it can help more people than I can as a physician.”

In 2006, Singel made the leap into agriculture and now owns Biocento Ecofarm – a 12-acre certified organic farm in Naches where he raises hundreds of free-range chickens, which produce more than 15 dozen eggs daily, in addition to organic produce such as berries, garlic and grapes.

Although Singel is quick to add that the farm is still far from a money-making venture, he finds the effort rewarding. And the fruits (and eggs) of his labor are quickly building a reputation for their high quality and flavor. Singel has sold Biocento eggs at the Yakima Farmers Market in the past, but he currently distributes primarily to westside locations such as Spuds Urban

Delivery and Madison Co-op, as well as to upscale eateries like Seattle’s Poppy Restaurant, Café Juanita and Trellis restaurant in Kirkland.

Singel hopes that this is just the tip of the iceberg for his eco-farm. Once it is self-sustaining, Singel plans to invite others to Biocento to learn about organic methods and healthful living – in addition to picking up fresh eggs and produce.

“It’s all about the future,” says Singel, who envisions the farm growing into “a very diversified plant jungle” over the next 10 to 15 years.

Which Came First?

Already dreaming up recipes for homemade quiches, omelets and frittatas? Raising backyard chickens may be easier than it looks. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Check before you invest. Raising chickens might evoke images of country farmland, but living in the city doesn’t necessarily limit egg-eaters to grocery stores. Urban chickens are a growing trend and, according to city planning manager Joan Davenport, most Yakima residents are allowed to keep three to four hens, as long as they are contained on the property and don’t disturb the neighbors. (Noisy roosters are not allowed – but also not necessary for egg production.) Check neighborhood zoning restrictions before getting started. Offering up fresh eggs to your neighbors as a gesture of good will might not hurt either.
• 

  Jaussaud's ornamental chicken varieties lay multicolor eggs.

  Dust off the power tools. Chickens need a secure shelter to protect them from predators and extreme weather. Whether you choose to buy a coop or build one, it should have a roost, nesting boxes (a good rule of thumb is one box for every two chickens) and plenty of ventilation. Chickens also need a place to stretch their wings, so if your location (or your neighbor’s black Lab) does not allow for free-range fowl, consider adding a chicken yard.

• Choose that chick! Spring weather brings bushels of baby chicks to local feed stores around the Valley. Research the chickens you want (meat vs. egg layers vs. ornamental) before being wooed by their adorable downy fluff. Baby chicks require special food, a heat source and a little extra TLC – so be sure to increase your chicken IQ before you take them home. Newbies to poultry may want to start with full-grown hens (try the newspaper’s Classified section or sale sites such as craigslist.com).
• Nitty-gritty. Chickens eat almost anything (though avocado, chocolate and potato are toxic to them) and love eating kitchen scraps in addition to worms and bugs. They will also need additional cracked corn or layer feed and access to small pebbles or “grit” as well as access to fresh water.
• Eggs-cellent! Chickens can lay up to one egg every 24 hours, so plan on checking the nesting boxes at least once a day. It is not necessary to wash fresh eggs, but if they become soiled use warm water to rinse them. Never clean with chemicals like soap or bleach – they can be absorbed through the egg’s micro-porous shell.

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It’s a White Pass Life

by admin on Jan 7, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Andrea McCoy

Located 55 miles west of Yakima, White Pass Ski Area has long been known for its family-friendly, laid-back style. Often called a hidden gem, and for many in the Valley a home away from home, White Pass is the snowy playground for the adventurous in spirit. Home to world-class athletes and growing families alike, White Pass prides itself in having a little something for everyone.

“Whether you’re looking for pristinely groomed rolling hills or some wild outback skiing, White Pass has it,” Rick Reid, director of skiing and snowboarding at White Pass, said. “We have unbelievable snow and fantastic conditions, which makes for an incredible experience on the mountain.”

With great anticipation and excitement this winter season, White Pass opened an additional 767 acres of skiable terrain. A work in progress for more than 30 years, the expansion gives skiers and snowboarders double the area to ski and board in. The new area boasts two additional chair lifts (both quads), a 3,000-square-foot, midmountain lodge and easier access to world-class backcountry terrain in the Goat Rocks.

When it opened in 1952, White Pass had just four rope tows.

“This is a really exciting time for White Pass,” Reid said. “We have all the amenities of a large resort without all the hype. We stick to the basics: great snow, great conditions and great people.”

With its eclectic group of “lifers,” those who have made a career out of skiing and snowboarding, and the equally loyal patrons who buy season passes year after year, it is the people who define White Pass.

Professional freestyle skier and Naches native Andy Mahre grew up skiing at White Pass. “I feel as at home on the mountain as I do sitting on my couch in my house,” he said. “It’s all about having fun. You can ski every kind of terrain: steeps, trees. It’s the whole package.” The son of Olympic slalom silver medalist Steve Mahre, Andy grew up participating in the mountain’s race clubs and ski schools before eventually making a career out of his love of the sport.

“I literally don’t remember a time before I was skiing at White Pass — my grandparents lived on the mountain, and it was a big part of our family’s life,” he said. A featured athlete in the 2010 Warren Miller film Wintervention, Andy Mahre’s extreme skiing comes from years of building jumps and finding new out-of-bounds areas to explore at White Pass. Although Andy travels the bulk of the winter season, he still manages to log at least 50 days of powder on the mountain.

With 29 years under his belt, Dave Clement, known on the mountain as “Davey,” is a White Pass fixture. Five days a week he can be found slinging beers and hot chocolate from behind the bar of a midmountain watering hole casually called “Davey’s Yurt,” but as an accomplished telemark skier, he’s more likely to be found hitting the slopes.

“I’ve watched as these little kids go from the platter or rope tow, to riding the chairlift with ease, to becoming really pretty good skiers and now they’re back at the rope tow with their own kids,” he said. “That’s a pretty cool thing. My own three kids grew up here and now they all work or help out during the season.”

With a loyal following and even a Facebook fan page, Davey will take his usual place at the Yurt once the season kicks off, but he can also be found (with his telemarks) at the new lodge, helping to ensure everything runs smoothly this inaugural season.

Just like an epic snow day can’t end without a pitcher of beer at Davey’s Yurt, a kid from Yakima can’t grow up at White Pass and not participate in the ski or snowboard clubs. Whether it’s racing or freestyling, kids at White Pass have access to some of the best coaches and trainers in the Pacific Northwest.

A former competitive ski racer, Alex Mahre is part of the White Pass professional coaching staff. Having volunteered with the race teams in previous seasons, Alex is looking forward to the one-on-one sessions with eager students.

“Because of my competitive nature, it just kills me to watch these kids go flying down the mountain and not get to join them,” Alex said. “I like to joke that I’m making my comeback this year.” Alex, the son of Olympic medalist Phil Mahre, is Andy Mahre’s cousin.

The White Pass Ski and Snowboard Clubs are open to children from 8 to 18. Students can choose from several clubs, including a freestyle team, a free-ride club and several racing teams, depending on age and skill level. Each team is coached by experienced, expert-level athletes.

“We’re homegrown at White Pass and I think that’s what makes it so special,” Alex said. “The passion runs deep; there’s just something about the mountain that makes you fall in love with it.”

Former White Pass race coach and volunteer Niki Hopkins agrees. After skiing competitively for Seattle University and training and coaching around the country, Hopkins landed at White Pass in 2002.

“Once you get dialed in at White Pass, you keep coming back,” she said. “The expansion is going to be phenomenal because it will just magnify the great things White Pass is already doing: a family atmosphere, great kids programs and services for the entire family, whether it’s lessons, rentals, or day care.”

Hopkins is already looking forward to getting her nearly 2-year-old daughter, Zophie, up on skis and into the children’s programs. “We plan to be part of the White Pass family for years to come,” she said.

White Pass has a charm and soul that often get lost at large resorts. Whether it’s groomed cruisers or a day’s hike to uncharted backcountry, a private lesson or ski team, White Pass has something for everyone.

“When it comes down to it, it’s all about the people,” Reid said. “They are the rhythm of the mountain. Every day I wake up and go to the ski area and get to do a job I love and be part of the mountain experience. There’s none like it.”

Breakout Section:

Total acreage: 1,402 (includes 767 additional acres with expansion)

Base elevation: 4,500 feet

Top elevation: 6,000 feet

Total trails:  45 (30 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, 20 percent advanced)

Average annual snowfall:  350 inches

Total lifts : 8 (Great White Express Quad, Couloir Express Quad, Basin Quad, Far East Triple, Pigtail Peak Double, Paradise Double, Platter Lift and Magic Carpet)

Lodges

The Day Lodge – Restaurant and Bar / Food Service

High Camp Lodge (new) – Food Service/Beer

Davey’s Yurt – Food Service

Operating Hours:  8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.

4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Night Skiing (Saturdays & holidays only through March 5)

Snowline: 509-672-3100

Day Care: 509-672-3106

Rental Shop: 509-672-3106

Group Sales 509-672-3101

skiwhitepass.com

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OM for the Holidays

by Heather Caro on Nov 5, 2010

Celisa Hopkins leads a noon-time yoga class. Photo by Gordon King

By Heather Caro

Between shopping sprees, cooking for the in-laws, long lines at the airport and (yet another) company party to attend, the holiday season comes practically gift-wrapped with stress. This year, take a timeout (in lotus position, of course) at one of the yoga and pilates studios that call Yakima home. These dharma devotees might help you find your balance – just in time for the holidays.

Yakima Yoga

A warm welcome and often candlelit studio await visitors to Yakima Yoga, which shares the Old Opera House entrance with Carousel restaurant. Co-managers Gina Ord and Megan Tweedy, along with staff instructors, teach classes and workshops using a variety of yoga styles for all skill levels, including classes designed specifically for people with back or neck problems, those with larger bodies, athletes and mommies-to-be.

“Because the population of Yakima is diverse, we would like our class offerings to meet the needs of all those in the Yakima Valley,” says Ord.

Seasonal classes such as the “Post-Holiday Detox Workshop” and “Yoga for Skiers and Snowboarders” have helped to make this studio a local favorite. Yakima Yoga is equipped with yoga mats, blocks, bands and blankets that are available to class participants – including lavender eye pillows for use during the end-of-class Savasana (the final relaxation). Private lessons and facility rental are also available.

Rates: Single class $13, six-class punch card $65

Yakima Yoga

25 N. Front St., Suite 4, Yakima

509-255-0650

yakimayoga.com

Feather Yoga

Ever wonder how office dynamics could improve if everyone just took a breather – and maybe launched into Downward Dog? Feather Yoga’s Heather Powell decided to find out by teaching her popular “Yoga at Work” series. Traveling to local employers with wellness programs, such as the Bureau of Reclamation in East Valley and the Yakima libraries, Powell brings lunchtime relaxation to her clients. How’s that for a work perk?

Powell also offers classes in the Allied Arts gallery and teaches with an Iyengar influence, which focuses on pose alignment. “Even a simple pose like standing on your feet in mountain pose (tadasana) can be difficult if you hold the pose for a few minutes,” says Powell. “Teaching your mind and body to be steady yet easy at the same time allows us to better deal with all situations that present themselves in life.”

Powell suggests students bring their own yoga mat, though they are available in the studio along with blocks, blankets and chairs to assist with poses.

Rates: Single class $20, seven-class session $105

Feather Yoga

5000 W. Lincoln Ave. (Allied Arts Gallery), Yakima

509-469-2559

featheryogastudio.com

CS Pilates

The sounds of bustling commerce surround CS Pilates, located in the Scarborough Fair Shopping Center. But step through the doorway and visitors will be put at ease. The studio, designed by Nancy Melcher, incorporates a soothing color palette, natural elements and local artwork, all designed to “bring the outside in.” Airy rooms, a small boutique and private dressing rooms complete the tranquil space owned and operated by Cathy Schlieman.

CS Pilates opened in 2008 and is the only studio in the Valley fully equipped with pilates “reformer” equipment, which allows controlled movement while building core strength. “People who care about their bodies carry themselves better, with more confidence,” says Schlieman, who counts a growing number of men and women in their 70s and 80s as clients.

Schlieman, along with five instructors (including her son, Ken), teach a variety of pilates group classes, as well as dance, Nia (an integrated movement class involving martial arts, dance and yoga) and the popular yogalates. Class sizes are small (usually no more than six people), though private sessions are available.

Rates: $22 Single class, package discounts available

CS Pilates

Photo by Gordon King

910 Summitview Ave., Suite 6A, Yakima

509-965-2346

cspilates.com

Stillpoint

Colorful prayer flags, sunlit stretches of hardwood floor and posters featuring bone and musculature greet visitors to Stillpoint. Led by partners Sharon Grandi and Michael Moritz, Stillpoint’s classes incorporate many traditional yogi philosophies.

“(Yoga practice) has been cultivated to support anyone wishing to realize their potentialities — an intentional practicing of bringing balance and greater personal power into living,” says Moritz, who integrates meditation and awareness into yoga teachings.

Massage therapy, t’ai chi, qigong, Feldenkrais and breathing awareness classes are offered at Stillpoint in addition to yoga.

“We’re strongly influenced by the most current research about the relationship between the brain and nervous system, learning and contemplative practice,” says Moritz, who along with Grandi has been practicing and teaching yoga since 1985. Stillpoint is a fully “stocked” studio with mats and blocks available to students for use during class.

Rates: Single class $15, package discounts available

Stillpoint

3205 River Road, Yakima

509-941-8866

stillpointonline.co

Photo by Gordon King

It’s no secret that yoga and pilates are good for the mind and body. Experts tout increased flexibility, stress reduction and pain prevention among other health benefits. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your experience.

•                Unplug. Nothing disrupts dharma like a ring tone, so be sure to turn cell phones off.

•                Speak Up. Be sure to tell your yoga instructor before class if you are ill or injured. Poses can be altered to avoid doing more harm. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your yoga teacher for help if you are having trouble. An experienced instructor will be able to assist you in finding the correct pose — which may mean the difference between having an awful time and actually relaxing.

•                Don’t Eat, Drink and be Merry. Try to avoid eating for two hours before a class because it could make you feel tired and heavy. Bring a water bottle with you to hydrate before and after class — but guzzle water during class and you may end up with a sloshing stomach.

• Dress the Part. It’s best to wear comfortable clothing that allows for movement. However, be sure your attire fits well enough that an impromptu inverted pose won’t lead to a wardrobe malfunction.

Unwind. Remember that yoga is progressive and noncompetitive. Try not to compare yourself with others who may have been practicing for a few years.

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