Crafts & Cruisers for Cancer provides fun for a good cause

MOSES LAKE — A sunny summer afternoon, local craft beer and spirits, a car show, live music and the successful conclusion to a fundraising campaign.

There was plenty to celebrate at Crafts & Cruisers for Cancer Saturday.

Owners of cool rides and lovers of craft beer and spirits filled the lawn from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ten Pin Brewing Company, 1149 N. Stratford Road in Moses Lake. Proceeds went to the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation. The total raised was unknown by press time.

Cale Russell, one of the organizers and the chief executive officer of Ten Pin Brewing, said the event started as a fundraiser for the cancer foundation in 2018, and showcased craft breweries and craft distilleries around Washington. Organizers decided to change it up for 2021 with the addition of the car show, Russell said, which was the next evolution, and it probably will return in 2022.

Larry Camden, owner of Shade Tree Customs in Moses Lake, was one of the organizers of the car show and said 54 car owners signed up.

“It’s been so fun,” said Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation Director Angel Ledesma.

The cancer foundation provides services to cancer patients and their families, from gas and food cards to support groups. The foundation and its partners, Confluence Health, the Confluence Health Foundation and the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group, raised $3.5 million to build a radiation treatment center for cancer patients in Moses Lake. The fundraising campaign wrapped up in July

Russell said organizers of Crafts & Cruisers didn’t know what to expect in 2021. The 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re a little bit shocked that so many people came out,” he said. “It’s just nice to be out again.”

The craft brewing and distilling industries were affected by the pandemic, he said, and a lot of them are still getting going again. As a result, organizers decided to stick with producers in the Moses Lake area for 2021, serving Ten Pin and Squirrel Fight Artisan Brewing beer and spirits from Moses Lake Distillery. The wine was from Gard Vintners, based in Walla Walla, but with vineyards near Royal City and Mattawa.

Russell said he wanted to invite more breweries and distilleries in 2022.

Adrianna Carbon said she was there because it was something that looked like fun.

“I always love it when there’s something fun to do in Moses Lake,” she said.

Chis Lamb liked getting out of the house.

“Out in the sunshine,” he said.

Lamb also had friends who had entries in the car show.

Lonny Steinmetz, of Moses Lake, entered his 1967 Camaro RS, and it’s all original, from the 327 engine to the carburetor to the factory tires and wheels.

“I could go on, and on, and on,” he said.

The only thing that’s not original is the bright orange paint job.

“It used to be butternut yellow,” he said.

He purchased the car about five months ago, and wanted one as original as he could get it. He’s going to be teaching auto mechanics at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center this fall, he said, and it will be a valuable teaching tool. And of course, that’s why he bought it, for his students, he said.

Mike and Tami Nielsen both entered cars, his 1970 Z28 Camaro and her 2003 Mustang.

“My wonderful wife bought it (the Camaro) for my birthday five years ago,” Mike Nielsen said.

Bill Anderson brought the 1930 Ford Model A he’s owned for about 20 years. It’s not original, having lost a few inches from the cab and gained a fabric roof. But it looks a lot like the hot rods he grew up with, and that’s one reason he likes it, Anderson said.

“Twenty years of enjoyment,” he said.

Live music was provided by Lake City Blues, Dimestore Prophets and Free Beer Nuts, all of Moses Lake.

Russell said it was a fun day, and even better – fun for a good cause.

“Working with Angel and those guys – that’s why we’re doing this,” he said.