Ellington

'Man up'

Rodeo campaign raises funds, awareness for domestic violence services

MOSES LAKE — When the rodeo riders wear purple, that means it’s time to man up. “Man Up" is for awareness of domestic violence, said Kim Pope, executive director of New Hope. “Any time we make someone aware of the services that are provided in our (area), that’s important.” The Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo teams up every year with New Hope for the Man Up Crusade, an awareness program to raise both money and awareness of domestic violence. Rodeo competitors and spectators will wear purple bandannas, shirts and more at the rodeo Saturday to signal their support for the folks who care and advocate for domestic violence victims.

Old Hotel to host summer art event Saturday

OTHELLO — The Old Hotel Art Gallery will host “Paint, Pour and Explore” Saturday, according to an announcement from the museum. “We are collaborating with several other businesses in an effort to give the community a fun evening, draw people into The Old Hotel, and support local businesses,” Director Samantha Copas wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. The event will include wine tasting with Ginkgo Forest Winery, and group painting led by artist Nellie Hoot of It’s Arty Time. There will also be cake tasting with Artisan Bakery and charcuterie boxes from Bites of Rye, according to the announcement.

BASIN EVENTS: July 31-Aug. 31

COLUMBIA BASIN — Those lazy days of summer don’t have to be so lazy you can’t get out and enjoy some fun around the Basin. Here are a few ideas for August.

BASIN EVENTS: Aug. 7-15

COLUMBIA BASIN — We’ve made it to August, and there are things going on all over the Basin. Here are some chances to get out and about.

Cowboy Breakfast to kick off fair week in new location

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Cowboy Breakfast is moving this year. The event, which has been held at Sinkiuse Square for more than 25 years, will be at the Elks Lodge, formerly the Porterhouse restaurant. The new location means the volunteers can cook in a commercial kitchen rather than on outdoor griddles, said Debbie Doran-Martinez, director of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. “Last year we struggled keeping the food coming out from the restaurant that we ordered it from in a timely manner,” Doran-Martinez said. “We were without eggs for 45 minutes. We’re trying to avoid that.”

Documentary will tell the story of Marlin music festival that never was

MOSES LAKE — Fifty-five years ago, Grant County almost had a rock music festival. “(The promoters) leased this land just outside of Marlin, started billing bands and everything,” said filmmaker Jacob Hoxie. “And then a few weeks before it all happened, the county took them to court and said, ‘You can’t do this.’” Hoxie is creating a documentary about Sunrise 71, the rock festival that almost put Marlin on the map. Many of the people who were involved have passed on, he said, but he’s still collecting memories from those who are still with us and would like to hear from local residents who remember it.

Grant County Fair coming next week

MOSES LAKE — Smoke or no smoke, the fair will go on. “We won’t cancel the fair,” said Grant County Fairgrounds Manager Jim McKiernan. “Ultimately, the decision comes from the county commissioners … The (Grant County) Health District is loaning us some air purifiers for the Commercial, 4-H and Ag buildings as well as the Huck Fuller (Building).” There will also be N95 masks available at the gate, McKiernan said, if anyone needs one. There are a few improvements that fairgoers might spot, including the return of mutton-bustin’, a petting zoo and a new permanent food booth offering smashburgers, McKiernan said. There are also some updates to the livestock barn to reduce temperatures, including porta-pools for the critters.

Mason’s Place opens in new location

More space with larger kitchen

MOSES LAKE — For Heather Mason, the opening of Mason’s Place’s new location is about more than fresh paint, expanded seating or future menu offerings. It is the culmination of more than a decade of relationships, regular customers and community support that helped transform a small coffee shop’s dream into one of Moses Lake’s most popular third spaces. After 11 years in the Smith Martin Building, Mason’s Place has moved into a larger standalone space that allows for a full kitchen, room to grow and new opportunities to serve customers. But as she looked around the café shortly before opening day, Mason said what struck her most was not the renovation itself.

Masquers announce ‘Anastasia’ cast

SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater has announced its cast for “Anastasia: The Musical,” which will open in October. Emma-Jean Wydur will play Anya, a young woman with amnesia who may or may not be the youngest daughter of the Russian Tsar Nicholas Romanov II, who was executed with his family in the Russian Revolution of 1917. Ben McLain will appear as the con artist Dmitry, and Jeremy Hansen will play Vlad, an exiled Russian aristocrat. Alec Lobe will be the Bolshevik general Gleb. Christie McLain will be the Dowager Empress, the grandmother of the real Anastasia, and Auti Kirk will be her lady-in-waiting, the Countess Lily. Other members of the Romanov family round out the ensemble.

BASIN EVENTS Aug. 14-22

COLUMBIA BASIN — The third week in August is coming up, and we all know what that means: the Grant County Fair, Miner Services Demo Derby and Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo. But that’s not all that‘s happening this week. Check out these options as well.