By Don Nelson
Trial by Fire on track
It’s taking us a little longer than originally planned to put together our Trial by Fire publication, which will chronicle the Methow Valley’s summer of challenges. We now plan to publish it with the Dec. 24 issue of the newspaper. Because of the Christmas holiday that week, the paper will be printed, distributed to newsstands and mailed on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
We’ve already collected a huge amount of material — photos, personal stories, poems and songs contributed by many people who were affected by the fires and floods, maps, graphics and a dozen stories written by our staff. We have so much stuff that we need to increase the size of the publication beyond the 64 pages we originally planned. The “slick” cover has already been sent to the Wenatchee World to be pre-printed.
All of the material in the publication, and additional items that don’t make it in their entirety, will eventually be available in an online archive.
Our thanks to the many people who have helped us out in so many ways — as contributors, sources and advertisers. It’s been a huge, challenging and ultimately satisfying project.
Trial by Fire will be distributed for free and we’re printing enough copies so that we can be responsive to the many people who have asked if they can have extras.
More firepower
I mentioned this earlier on our Facebook page, but I wanted to make sure that Western Display, the Oregon company that provides the fireworks for the Christmas at the End of the Road show last week, gets acknowledged for its generous contribution to the community. In addition to the fireworks that organizer Doug Mohre paid for with local donations and business support, Western Display threw in an additional $2,000 worth of fireworks gratis.
So if the spectacular show seemed a bit longer and more grand than in the past, now you know why.
Go a little Horse Crazy
A while back, Lauralee Northcott — Horse Crazy Cowgirl Band member, artist, teacher, etc., etc. — got the notion to throw a little celebratory party for the Methow Valley News on the occasion of our 113th birthday. Or just for the heck of it. In any event, once Lauralee gets an idea cooking, you know something entertaining and interesting is going to result.
Lauralee booked the Methow Valley Community Center for 7 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2015. She’s putting together a show that will include songs, skits and some stand-up comedy by local folks she is recruiting for the entertainment. Attendance will be by donation. You can call Lauralee at 996-2404 if you have any ideas you’d like to pass along.
In the meantime, you can hear Horse Crazy in a concert benefitting The Merc Playhouse on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15, at the door or by reservation. Call 997-7529. The award-winning group with its powerful harmonies — our own local Country Western superstars — might just sell out the place.
It’s a ‘Wonder’
One last pitch — for the “Winter Wonder” holiday show at The Merc, which plays Thursday through Saturday this week. It’s a lot of fun with engaging variety that includes poetry, song, dance and humor. All of it is entertaining for every age group, but I’d say that watching Mandi Smith sing “Santa Claus got Stuck in my Chimney” is worth the price of admission. And if you are paying attention to the drama and emotion in Missi Smith’s solo dance, you will feel your tear ducts filling up. The Scuttlebutt Sisters are quite charming, and Danbert Nobacon gives a gripping reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. There’s much more.
