Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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The Litte Paris Bookshop by Nina George, translated by Simon Pare Reviewed by Todd Vandenbark, MLS. Library Director, Columbia County Rural Library District, Dayton, WA Floating on the banks of the Seine River in France is a barge where Monsieur Perdue has a bookshop. He considers himself as a "literary apothecary" and uses his intuitive sense of what a person needs to "prescribe" novels about the hardships of life. Perdue's gift has helped to mend broken hearts and wounded souls for his custome...
Last week, I took a trip to British Columbia to visit friends, see some art, go to the season opening of the Symphony and eat. Seems like ages since I stayed in downtown Vancouver and was curious to see how it has fared over the pandemic. First I had to get into the country. At the time of my trip, U.S. citizens were allowed to cross the border by car or flight. I used the ArriveCAN app to make sure I had the current travel information. I chose to drive, allowing me to take too many clothes,...
This month, one of the most talented people I know has moved to town. David Gignac has been a close friend, fellow artist, co-exhibitor, and collaborator since I met him decades ago on Whidbey Island. It always amazes me but never surprises me, the ingenious way his mind works. It is always a joy to work on big and small projects, art and building, theater, and real-life problem-solving. I love living in Waitsburg and always hoped I could entice him to make this his home. When Jeff and Gayle Bro...
DAYTON—Washington state’s legislation on police reform went into effect on Sunday, July 25, and has left many police officials across the state without needed clarification. Concerns over changes to police response based on House Bill 1054 and House Bill 1310, sponsored by State Representative Jesse Johnson, were discussed at an August 2 Columbia County Commissioners meeting. The State Legislature passed the police accountability measures in response to national, state, and local calls to reform policing after the deaths of unarmed Black Americ...
WAITSBURG—Recently, I received a voice message from a number I was not familiar with. The message claimed there were actions filed on my social security number for fraudulent activities. The recorded message said I needed to call the provided number before they begin legal proceedings. This is not the first call or email I have received from someone identifying themselves as a financial or government agency. Before I started getting calls like this, my parents received similar messages. One incident involved my very intelligent and computer-sav...
Miracle Workers TBS, three seasons, (2019-) Miracle Workers is a comedy series that uses the same ensemble cast in different storylines for each season. The storylines are from the writings of humorist Simon Rich. The first season is based on Rich's 2012 novel "What in God's Name." It takes place at Heaven Inc.'s corporate headquarters, where God, played by Steve Buscemi, is a little bored and looking for new interests. Feeling frustrated with how Earth and humanity have turned out, he starts...
I have owned dogs living in apartments and houses. My first dog, Tupac, a miniature dachshund, lived with me in an apartment in Seattle. Apartment life means no yard, so we would go for walks around the neighborhood and local dog parks. Walks were when he could do his "business." Unpaid, of course. After Tupac found the perfect spot and checked his p-mail, I would pull out a poop bag, open it up, slip my hand in and pick up his gift-to-mom. I can't lie; that first bagful was a test of my love...
Three blokes became five. Sergeant Kevan Maas and Deputy Sheriff Aaron Stites checked in with local businesses on Main Street in Waitsburg on Tuesday. Building and business owners were happy to have a chance to discuss local policing issues and opportunities to work with the WWSO on outreach and community programs....
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg City Council met on July 1 for a council workshop. The meeting was open to the public and attended by ten members of the community. There was no public comment period during the meeting. Per the public notice dated June 29, any questions or comments could be passed on to the City Council via City Hall, located at 147 Main St., P.O. Box 35, Waitsburg, WA 99361, or (509) 337-6371. The first item on the agenda regarded City Hall. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe...
WAITSBURG — Many state, county, and city officials ask the public to celebrate the Fourth of July without home fireworks this year. The Pacific Northwest is experiencing extreme heat conditions causing serious concerns over health and fire safety going into the Fourth of July celebrations. Even though the risk of fire increases significantly during extreme heat conditions, under Washington state law, local jurisdictions cannot impose temporary bans on fireworks. The times to purchase and use fireworks in the state are regulated under RCW 7...
Waitsburg—On Wednesday, June 9, the Friends of the Weller Library met for their regular monthly meeting. The meeting was held at the Weller Library in Waitsburg and attended by approximately 30 people. Karen Huwe, past president of the group, welcomed everyone before turning the meeting over to new president Lisa Winnett. After the last meeting’s minutes were read and approved, Winnett opened discussion on the City Council’s possible decision to surplus the library. She said the group knew nothing of the plan until they read it in The Times...
WAITSBURG—The May 19 City Council meeting was scheduled to include a public hearing concerning the possible sale of 212 Main St, which houses the Weller Public Library. A much larger than usual crowd attended the Waitsburg City Council meeting. Over 40 people were there specifically to attend the public hearing. Many people were concerned that the proposal was about closing the library altogether. Comments supported the library, and many wanted to keep the library in the historic building on Main Street. Mayor Marty Dunn opened the regular coun...
DAYTON-Chair of the Board of Commissioners, Earle Marvin, opened the May 12 meeting with public comment. Betty Longren spoke, urging the commissioners to respect all community members and get behind local businesses. She wanted the Port to listen to businesses and those in the community who are against the trail project. Dayton Chronicle reporter, Melissa Gemmell, asked if the commissioners had any comments they would like to make to those protesting the trail. Commissioner Sean Milligan...
I ran across Hyperbole and a Half, by Allie Brosh, shortly after it was published in 2013. At the time, it seemed like graphic novels were replacing the written word. I have to say I was not a big fan of the genre. The books either had great drawings and boring text or vice versa. Hyperbole and a Half has brilliantly funny drawings and a clever, intelligent narrative. They work perfectly together, and the book is full of pleasant surprises. Brosh presents the autobiographical stories grouped by...
When I took over The Times in 2019, I was an avid newspaper reader, not a newspaper journalist. Just because you've eaten in a restaurant doesn't mean you can run one. Michele was one of the constants as I began my new endeavor. She covered Dayton and Columbia county in a comprehensive way, as a citizen, friend, and civic member who cared about her community and journalism. You couldn't read her articles and say you weren't well informed about the issues. Michele joined the paper in October...
The Painter and the Thief, Hulu This Norwegian documentary is a story of friendship built from art and theft. The painter is Czeck artist Barbora Kysilkova whose natural curiosity leads her to a friendship with one of the men who stole two of her most valuable paintings. The thief is Karl Bertil Nordlund, one of two thieves who opportunistically, yet carefully steal Kysilkova's paintings from an Oslo gallery. His need to be seen is offered by the filmmaker as one reason he may have accepted...
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford Though this best-selling book was published in 2005, I didn't read it until 2009. Before then, my reading material rarely included invading empire-building conquerors. This was before Game of Thrones (GOT), both the books and HBO series, became an addiction in my household. What little I had learned about Genghis Khan was that he was a violent and ruthless invader, on horseback, wearing fabulous fur fashion. I especially loved...
Michele Smith’s picks Caste by Isabel Wilkerson The concept of caste has been around long before the concept of race. In her book, Caste, Isabel Wilkerson takes us on a trip through the Hindu caste system, the Nazi plan to exterminate Jews and others deemed inferior, and through to the caste system in America, which is based on race. As an artificial hierarchy, caste determines one’s place in society and which members will benefit from having better access to resources. Tecumseh and the Prophet:...
Having a dog who requires long and frequent walks, I have begun listening to audiobooks. Often, if the book is a good one, I continue listening after our walks. I tend to rotate the selections between historical non-fiction and Scandinavian murder mysteries. The last book falls into the former category. The Space Race is a documentary-drama series released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 1969 moon landing. The ten episodes cover the space program focusing on the relationship...
4 Streaming on PBS, BBC, Britbox and Prime Video This series may feel familiar; there was a long-running British series of the same name from 1978 to 1990. The new series has just been picked up for a second season and is currently streaming season one on PBS and the BBC. The story follows the adventures of James Herriot, a veterinarian in 1930s Yorkshire. It is based on the books by British veterinary surgeon Alf Wright, who wrote under the pen name James Herriot. In the first episode, we...
Over the last four years, there has been an increased narrative that the mainstream media and print journalism are purveyors of ‘fake news.” The news media has repeatedly been presented as “the enemy of the people” by our president; when, in fact, it is one of the most essential and critical elements of our success as a democracy. The Constitution protects and encourages the free press. Without this protection, the press would not be able to alert citizens to government abuses and corruption. As a locally published paper, The Times works u...
Growing up, my family loved to find ways to make our Christmas trees unique. Not always successfully or safely. In the sixties, my mother turned one tree into Pop Art bordering on Psychedelic Art. Brightly colored giant paper flowers in orange, pink, and lime green, love beads, and loads of lights covered the tree. It was so mod, reminding us of the 'Joke Wall' on T.V.'s Laugh-In (look it up). We were so excited to plug in the lights and enjoy its grooviness. It took less than four minutes for...
Mail delivery is deemed an essential service by the government. Americans rely on the timely delivery of everything from prescription medications to Social Security checks. Many residents in our community must go to the post office to pick up or send mail and packages. Residents who are older or have underlying conditions do not always have the option to avoid making a trip to the post office. Our local postal workers work hard to ensure the facility, including the post office boxes, lobby, and...
I was one of those early nerds who couldn’t wait to get my hands on the first Apple iPad. I had been using my iPhone to draw using an app called Brushes. One of my art heroes, David Hockney, had been doing daily drawings on his iPhone and sending them to friends. I was intrigued by the images. The phone was too small for me, and I embraced the larger iPad immediately. I took it traveling and found I could have full color to work with. Because the app allows for layers and transparency, it was m...
For over a quarter of a century, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Ann Lamont has inspired new writers with honest and down to earth advice, written with humor and experience. The title refers to advice Lamott’s father gave her brother, who was struggling with a school paper on birds. Just write one bird at a time, and don’t get overwhelmed. “Thirty years ago, my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We...
