Farewell party for Wenzels
The Merc Playhouse will host a farewell potluck party for Mark and Julie Wenzel and their family on June 28 from 5-7 p.m. at Twisp City Park. Mark, superintendent of the Methow Valley School District, will take over as superintendent of the Anacortes School District on July 1. Julie is leaving her post as artistic director of The Merc, but will return to direct one more production later this year.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck dish and lawn chairs. The Merc will provide beverages. No alcohol will be allowed. The gathering will be held on the band shell side of the park. For more information, call 997-7529.
New boiler at pool
A new boiler at the Wagner Memorial Pool in Twisp will keep water temperatures more comfortable for swimmers this summer. The boiler was purchased and installed entirely through local fundraising efforts.
The pool was built in 1966, and town public works officials estimate that the boiler was at least 20 years old. It was cantankerous and always in need of repairs, but lack of funding prevented the town from replacing the old boiler.
Four major financial supporters – Friends of the Pool, the Kiwanis Club, the Killer Whales Swim Team and the Twisp Senior Center – stepped forward to help. Friends of the Pool volunteers have been in charge of gathering donations. The new boiler, which cost $18,364 to purchase and install, is now heating the pool in about half the time it took last year.
A better boardwalk
Public Works assistants Dale Hutson and Duane Chavey removed a section of boardwalk in front of the Visitor Information Center that, according to Mayor Dave Acheson, “had the effect of leading people out into no-man’s land” in downtown Winthrop.
Red McComb bequest helps MVSTA
The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association has increased its “Trails for Life” endowment with a recent bequest from David “Red” McComb.
McComb, a Mazama resident who died in March, left money to several organizations, including $100,000 to MVSTA. The gift to MVSTA has been placed in an endowment that was begun last year with a $50,000 award from the Community Foundation of North Central Washington.
“Red’s gifts to this community will be felt for generations. We believe the best way to honor Red and his contribution to this community is to place the funds in our recently established endowment, so his legacy can live on forever,” said James DeSalvo, MVSTA’s executive director.
Currently the MVSTA endowment has a fund balance of $155,100 of restricted funds that will be used to directly benefit the trails.
Amateur radio field day
Okanogan County Amateur Radio Club W7ORC is hosting its annual Field Day event on Saturday and Sunday (June 22 and 23) at a cabin in the hills in Aeneas Valley. Field Day is an opportunity for amateur radio operators to practice their emergency response capabilities.
Directions: From Highway 20 take Aeneas Valley Road to Peony Creek and follow the signs. For more information, call Mike Mauk W7MCM at (509) 449-0605, email w7orc1@gmail.com or visit www.w7orc.com.
Dance with your dad
A father-and-daughter dance will be held June 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp. There will be games, prizes and refreshments in addition to dancing. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door; children under age 2 are free. Tickets are available at Hometown Pizza in Twisp and Robin’s Egg Bleu in Winthrop. For more information, email twispfatherdaughterdance@live.com.
Job seeker workshops
Worksource Okanogan County is offering two free workshops for job seekers:
• An informational workshop requested by Wood Resources for potential future employees, at the Omak Community Center, 601 Benton St., from 10 a.m.-noon on June 27. Eligibility reviews for on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs and Trade Act Assistance screening will also be offered.
• “Workplace effectiveness – how to get a job and keep it,” from 9 a.m.-noon on July 1, also at the Omak Community Center.
Pre-registration is preferred but not required. For more information, call (509) 826-5107 or go to www.economic-alliance.com.
