Annual bird count
The Twisp Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count takes place Friday (Dec. 30). Meet at the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery at 7 a.m., and convene at 5:30 p.m. for the après-count potluck dinner (vegetarian chili provided) and count tally at Jen and Richard Fisher’s Winthrop home. All are welcome, from novices to veteran birders. Bring binoculars, lunch, warm clothes and field guides. Optional items include skis, snowshoes and spotting scopes. More info: Peter Wimberger (253) 303‑2264; or Jen Fisher (206) 419‑2548.
New Year’s Eve party
Sun Mountain Lodge hosts a New Year’s Eve dinner and party on Saturday (Dec. 31), from 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.. Dinner will be from 5 – 10 p.m. with a special menu. “Blue Wave” band dance party, 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Fireworks at midnight. For information, visit sunmountainlodge.com.
Women’s Support Group
A Women’s Support Group will meet in the Gateway Room on the TwispWorks campus on Wednesdays starting Jan. 4, 2023. The sessions will start at 8:30 a.m. and will last until about 10 a.m.; doors open at 8 a.m. A donation of $10 is suggested for each session.
Group discussions, facilitated by Valarie McKenna, will include a variety of topics such as managing stress and anxiety, working through grief and loss, improving communication and boundaries, importance of self-care, food and mood, spiritual healing.
To register, text (509) 322‑0097 with your name and best time to call; or email valariemckenna@live.com.
Watershed Council openings
The Methow Watershed Council has two openings: One is an at-large position; the other must be someone who lives in the “middle Methow” area. Applicants must be registered to vote in Okanagan County. Duties include monthly meetings and participation on various committees. For more information and application instructions, email methowwatershed@gmail.com.
Hottell’s class full
Bill Hottell’s annual winter history class, which resumes in-person sessions after meeting online the past few years, has reached capacity — but there is a waitiing list for “History of Ukraine and Russia.”
Sessions will be in the community meeting room at the Winthrop library on Wednesdays from 9 – 10:30 a.m., starting Jan. 11 and continuing through March 15.
Get your name on the waiting list by emailing Hottell at billhottell@gmail.com. Include your name, telephone number and email address.
The course is sponsored by Friends of the Winthrop Library (FOWL). The fee is $50 for the entire course, payable to FOWL at the end of the first class. More information can be found at http://winthroplibraryfriends.org/events.
Get trivial
Methow At Home hosts “pub style team trivia” on Jan. 11, from 3 – 5 p.m. at the home of Nancy Aadland in Winthrop. Snacks provided. To register, visit www.methowathome.org.
Natural history class
The Methow Natural Journal is offering a six-session class, “Earth & Sky, Flora & Fauna: Natural History of the Methow,” with the remaining classes to be held Wednesday evenings at The Cove II in Twisp in January. The program will include a hands-on lab session. The sessions are taught by local naturalist Dana Visalli. Cost is $0-$80. For more information and to enroll, email dana@methownet.com. Space is limited.
Visalli is also presenting an online version of the same program, hosted by Methow At Home, on Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27. The free sessions will be from 9 – 10:15 p.m. on those dates. Register at methowathome.org.
Master Gardeners sought
The WSU Okanogan County Master Gardener Program is now accepting applications for new Master Gardener volunteers training, through a partnership with Chelan County. Classes will begin in January and run through April. Classes will be held on zoom January-March, with hopes of meeting in person in April. Call Okanogan County Extension office at (509) 422‑7245 for more information.
Small business grants
The Economic Alliance is accepting applications for Okanogan County Small Business Support Grants, which will be distributed to companies than can document that they are still affected by or recovering from the disruptions caused by COVID-19. The grants are funded through the federal American Recovery Plan Act. The maximum grant amount will be $5,000.
Eligible businesses in the restaurant, retail, tourism and hospitality industries may apply. They must be independently owned and have to 20 employees.
Grant applications are due by Dec. 31. For information, email rholderdiefenbach@economic-alliance.com, or call (509) 826‑5107.
Parenting/caregiver course
Okanogan County Community Coalition is hosting a free “Guiding Good Choices” parenting/caregiver course in January 2023. For more information, contact Nicole Roach, Program Coordinator, at occcnicole@gmail.com or (509) 322‑8436.
Regional hydrogeology
The Okanogan Land Trust offers a free presentation with hydrogeologist Jason Shira on Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the PUD auditorium in Okanogan. Shira will discuss hydrogeology of our region, including how it relates to the Okanogan Watershed Plan, water use, and aquatic habitats. Coffee and cookies will be available. For information, email info@okanoganlandtrust.org.
Beekeeping revisited
The bees will be back, and so will beekeeping classes with Susie Kowalczyk on the TwispWorks campus in February 2023. The first session, on Feb. 4, is a basic introduction to beekeeping including necessary tools, clothing and equipment. The second session, on Feb. 5, is about installing bee packages and hive management. Each session is from 2 – 4 p.m. Cost is $35 for one session or $60 for both. Email susiebeez@icloud.com for more information.
