A Twisp column wouldn’t be complete without mention of the premiere screening “Twisp: Power of Community.” The documentary was shown Friday at the Methow Valley Community Center to the public, but will soon be making its way through film festivals.
The movie is the brainchild of Leslee Goodman who, befittingly, found inspiration in an arts-based program here in Twisp to make the film. She attended a filmmaking class that taught her the skills and art of cinematic creation and it motivated her to forge a new path forward with filmmaking from a life-long career in communications. It’s this type of access to creative inspiration that I find particularly unique to Twisp.
The movie touches upon many of the endearing qualities and assets present in the lives of residents whose work supports and promotes the arts, resilience, charity, activism, education and reconciliation. In the film, these elements come together to demonstrate how a rural community can thrive.
The production was well-crafted, the flow engaging, and the stories enlightening. I find myself wanting to find some profound criticism of the film, make a statement of could’ve or should’ve, to pull it apart and analyze the chosen personas and stories that made the cut. But the truth is, the film needs no criticism. It needs nothing but to be celebrated and enjoyed as it is: a tribute to a beloved home. Those of us who love this place need no convincing, but the film does serve as a friendly reminder of how fortunate we are to call it home.
Now, onto some pressing news from the Town of Twisp: The town is seeking residents to voice support to the state Legislature to include appropriations for the overdue civic center building. This building, if built as planned, serves two primary purposes: to upgrade the existing city hall facilities and provide a tactical/strategic hub for emergency operations. It will also create a major facelift to Glover Street, sprucing up the aged façade of the current building. To find out more about the proposed building, stop into Town Hall.
There’s been lots and lots of talk around town about cougars. The last few snowfalls, coupled with continued cold, have made great opportunities for tracking revealing critters large and small roaming about. Also, as winter creeps along animals are getting hungrier and coming nearer to homesites in search of food. Tales of sightings, tracks and animal encounters with cougars, including reports of chickens and dogs falling prey to the big cats, are spreading all around the vicinity.
Cougars aren’t the only hungry animals these days. The deer in my neighborhood have taken to jumping into our bunny enclosure and eating the bunny feed out of the bunny hutch. If you hear a mad woman clanging metal, that’s me chasing them out of my yard with metal gongs and pots and pans each day.
Some upcoming things that may be of interest: The Dirt on Soil Health is a four-week series held at TwispWorks by the Methow Conservancy that started Monday(Feb. 25); the Community Challenge Relay (downhill, Nordic, tubing) at the Loup is on Saturday, March 9; and a cryptozoology lesson about hidden creatures of the northwest from sasquatches to sea serpents including the Lake Okanogan Ogopogo is at the Twisp library on March 14.
Finally, we are entering the month of freeze/thaw, also known as early mud season or March. This season presents some very important hazards to heed caution. First, icicles will start to get huge and impressive and dangerous. As always, I am asking that you send me a good picture of an amazing icicle. Also, potholes will soon turn into glacial crater-filled lakes, testing our driving skills and suspension. Last, but not least, beware that the dog poop you haven’t picked up all season will start to appear just about everywhere — take care where you step and scoop frequently.
