JOEL MARTIN

Field study

Japanese Agricultural Training Program celebrates 60 years at BBCC

MOSES LAKE — Six decades of agricultural collaboration between the Columbia Basin and Japan were celebrated Monday evening at Big Bend Community College. “Over the years, hundreds of participants have come to our region to learn, to work, and share their talents,” Big Bend Community College President Sara Thompson Tweedy said at the commemoration Monday. “And in doing so, you have enriched our college, strengthened our agricultural community, and created lifelong relationships that continue to span the Pacific Ocean.”

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.

Holy Trinity celebrates 80 years of faith

EPHRATA — Even in challenging times, there's a lot going on at Holy Trinity Church in Ephrata. “(It’s) a far cry from the heyday in the history of this congregation where they had hundreds of people worshiping on a Sunday,” said Council President Gary Bracht. “But within this small body, we're doing a lot more outreach and impacting more people in the community. We're looking at it as, where do we see God calling us? And that's the direction that we've taken.”

'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.

Confluence Health names new Chief Medical Officer

WENATCHEE — Confluence Health has selected a new chief medical officer, according to an announcement from Confluence July 23 July 23. Dr. Katie Peterson replaces former CMO Dr. James Murray, who was appointed to Confluence Health’s new chief physician executive position in March, according to an April 29 announcement from Confluence. “Dr. Katie Peterson brings a thoughtful, steady leadership style along with a strong understanding of both clinical care and the broader work required to improve health across a system,” Confluence CEO Dr. Andrew Jones wrote in the announcement. “She has earned the respect of colleagues across our organization and has shown a clear commitment to collaboration, quality, and doing what is right for patients. I’m confident she will serve our physicians, care teams, and community exceptionally well as CMO and will help us continue moving forward together as an organization.”

CBCCA unveils 2026-27 concert season

MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Community Concert Association has released its concert schedule for 2026-27. The season will begin with a CBCCA favorite, the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra, on Oct. 11. “The Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra has a long tradition as one of the finest student/community orchestras in the region and its repertoire contains some of the most demanding pieces in orchestral music,” the CBCCA wrote on its website. The orchestra is conducted by Ke

Podium cuts ribbon on new, expanded physical therapy and training clinic

MOSES LAKE — In physical therapy, it’s good to have plenty of room to work in. Now, Podium Physical Therapy and Performance Training has that space. Owner Dr. Ryan Carpenter cut the ribbon on his new, larger practice Thursday afternoon. “My idea with therapy and training was always to have a space for people to advance what they want to work on,” Carpenter said. “Our space seemed to shrink with equipment and people coming in.” The new space is a huge increase: 6,800 square feet compared to the1,800 square feet in which he opened Podium four years ago. Carpenter moved into the building next door, which was formerly Beck ‘N Call Pet Care, and for many years before that, the Calico Cat thrift store. The process took about six months, he said.

Looking good

Institute of Beauty Professionals trains barbers, nail techs and more

MOSES LAKE — It takes a lot of training to make people look their best. “(A license to do) nails is 600 hours (of instruction),” said Institute of Beauty Professionals owner and instructor Nicholas Harle. “Cosmetology is 1,640 hours, barbering is 1,000, hair design is 1,440 and aesthetics is 750.” IBP takes its own private students and also serves the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center’s cosmetology program, Harle said. Those students spend 2 1/2 hours a day at IBP and earn credits in lab science, technical science, first aid and fine arts, he said. There were 61 CBTECH students at IBP last year, he said, and there are about 25 full-time students.

Growing fast

Gray Girl Farms nursery springs up near Royal City

ROYAL CITY — It’s one thing to grow and sell flowers. Owning a complete nursery is something else altogether, especially when you have only months to build it. “The learning curve has been really steep,” said Kylie Gray-Eilers. “I just always tell myself that every day is a new day.” Gray-Eilers isn’t a stranger to raising plants; her Gray Girl Farms has sold dahlias for almost eight years, and she holds a Dahlia Days festival every year in October. The dahlia operation was beginning to reach the point where she needed either to scale it back or grow, she said. So when she learned that Robin Prchal, owner of Emerald Desert Nursery in Quincy, was fixing to retire, Gray-Eilers decided it was time to expand.