February 22, 2012

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Q&A with Amber Wiegand of Ivy Chapel Inn

Introducing Amber Wiegand, Manager of Ivy Chapel Inn, Ephrata, WA

Amber Wiegand, Manager of Ivy Chapel Inn, Ephrata, WA

I trained in culinary arts in Kirkland and have worked in several restaurants in the Seattle area. I also worked as an assistant manager for a Tea house that served high tea. I grew up and went to school in Ephrata and think it is a great community. My large and enthusiastic family lives here and are always available to lend a hand. I enjoy meeting local people and those visiting the area and this is a great way for me to do this. I am currently involved in promoting my carpet “recycled art” and have had a local showing. I enjoy helping people and working with the elderly and am taking courses and training to become a physical therapy assistant.

The Venue wanted to know more about Ivy Chapel Inn and what it offers to visitors coming to our community. This is what we learned.

VENUE Magazine: I am traveling and would prefer to stay overnight at a place with character and personality apart from corporate box hotels that are the same no matter what city you are in. Is the Inn a good choice?

Amber Wiegand: Our lodging is unique because it offers the comfort and interest of a bed and breakfast with the privacy of a hotel room. Each room is decorated in its own style including a fisher man room, peony room, Safari room, Ivy room, Rose room and a Blue room mimicking blue delft style. On the week-ends we serve a full breakfast with your choice strawberry crepes, cheese omelet with homemade pan fried potatoes, homemade granola parfait, or famous scones and fruit.

VM: I want to just get away for a week to relax. Is the Inn a good choice for this?

AW: The Ivy is a good choice for vacationing. It is quiet, has additional spaces to relax, including a deck, a game and TV room. Also we have a full size fridge in the breakfast area that you can store your food or left over’s. There is appliances to makes toast, coffee, and popcorn.

VM: My girlfriends and I think it would be fun to just spend a weekend visiting together. I am thinking the Inn would be a fun get-a-way from it all place to go? What do you think?

AW: The themed rooms with private sitting areas or small tables make it very easy to visit and spend time alone. We have a “Things to Do” list of interesting places to visit, see, or do. This gives you the local attractions that might not be known for those who don’t live here.

VM: Do you consider the Ivy Chapel Inn a bed and breakfast? How do you describe the Inn?

AW: We don’t feel that the Ivy is a true bed and breakfast because it offers so much privacy. You have the option of breakfast but you never have the feeling of being in someone’s home or that you must participate in the owner activities.

VM: I would like to have my wedding at the Inn. What do you offer to make my experience perfect?

AW: The charming Chapel area holds 150 guests with a staircase for the bride to descend. There is also an additional room that can be used for a buffet or gift area. We offer 10 banquet tables and 4 round tables and there are 40 outside chairs in additional to the 150 matching chairs. We also can provide linens in the bride’s colors and if they want chair sashes and other wedding accessories. We have a photographer, cake decorator, and a cleanup crew which makes coordination easy on the wedding planner. Have the bride spend the night before in the Rose room directly above the chapel so she can be well rested for her big day.

VM: My wedding is at my church, but I would like to have my reception at the Inn. How do I go about doing this?

AW: Renting the chapel for a reception is very easy. Tables and chairs are available. The vaulted ceiling and stain glass windows make this feel elegant and easy to decorate. VM: I have a large family and would like to have a reunion at the Inn so we can all be together for meals and accommodations.

VM: Can we reserve the space for this? How many family members can you accommodate comfortably?

AW: The Ivy is truly perfect for reunions. We offer 5 rooms with Queen Beds and 1 room with a king bed. Each of the rooms has a private bath and a sitting area. It can hold 12 in the guest rooms with an air mattress are available. Sleeping bags are welcome for extra children. With a deposit your family pet can also join the party. The breakfast has a full size fridge, a micro-wave, a toaster oven and a toaster. A full kitchen is available for rent with cooking utensils, plates, glasses and silverware. We even have various wine and drinking glasses. Also the different spaces such as the deck, TV room and the balcony allow different conversations.

VM: I need to organize a business meeting for co-workers all over the state. It would be nice to have space without the distraction of noise or the hustle and bustle associated with restaurant conference rooms. Is the Inn a good choice?

AW: We have a banquet room with tables for meeting, lunches, or conferences. With advance notice lunches can be catered or just call up the local restaurant and order your favorite foods. You have privacy for your conference, and of course WI-FI is available.

Filed Under: 2011-07 July 2011, Community

Thank you…it is grand!

Music teachers seek donations for Grand Piano to be housed at our new Civic Center in Moses Lake

Marcia Baldwin, Artist, www.mbaldwinfineart.com, mbaldwinfineart@gmail.com

Forty-one years ago (1970), the Moses Lake Chapter of Washington State Music Teachers Association (WMTA) was chartered. The chapter affiliated with Music Teachers National Association, is made up of professional teachers who specialize in private and group music instruction and are active in Moses Lake and surrounding communities promoting and sharing music. Our members provide lessons to over 300 music students ranging in ages from pre-school through adults.

Our chapter has been working on a project to purchase a high quality chapter grand piano, which will be housed in the 200-seat auditorium of Moses Lake’s new Civic Center. It has been exciting to watch the progress of the addition to our community. The piano will be used for chapter events, (competitions, adjudications, workshops, master classes, senior recital, etc), studio recitals, concerts and will be available for use by the community.

Having the support of the community is a key element to the success of this endeavor. There are several ways you can help.

  • You may make a donation in honor of someone you love, either living or deceased
  • You may become a Chapter patron at different levels
  • Your business may be a corporate sponsor
  • You may become a “friend of the piano” and donate any amount
  • You can inform others about our project and share this page with others!

Your generous donation, whatever amount, will benefit present and future generations of students, performers, music lovers and the community. We would appreciate receiving your gift by July 31, 2011. This will give us the necessary time to select and purchase the grand piano. It is our desire to have this fi ne instrument in place at the opening of the Civic Center. Each donor will receive a thank you letter acknowledging their donation. If requested for tax purposes, you will also be sent a receipt with our 501(c)3 status. In addition, all donations will be publicly recognized.

We are very grateful for donations already received and the enthusiasm of those we have talked with. If you would like more information about the piano, our chapter and/or our project, please contact Doreen Slaugh, Chapter President at 509-765-9596 or Harriet West, Piano Project Chair at 509-765-6585. We teachers are looking forward to presenting a “Thank You” concert on stage in the Civic Center.

If you wish to make a donation, please contact Harriet West at 509-765-6585.

Moses Lake Chapter members

Tami Bleazard
Laury Chandler
Elaine Fox
Preta Laughlin
Mary Loeffelbein NCTM
Mary Merrell
Marina Munter NCTM
Gracie Payne NCTM
Angela Rolfe
Doreen Slaugh NCTM
Harriet West

Filed Under: 2011-07 July 2011, Community

2011 Senior Babe Ruth World Series Comes to Ephrata

Near the geographical center of the state of Washington, on a high school baseball field in August, history will be made.

On August 6, 2011, the opening pitch will be thrown on the 2011 Senior Babe Ruth World Series, and it will happen in the smallest community ever to host the showcase event for senior-level baseball in this country. Ephrata (pronounced EE-fray-tuh), with its population of just over 7,500, will play host to the tournament for the first time in history.

Not that the region itself is new to this event. The Columbia Basin, an agricultural and outdoor enthusiast mecca that runs from the Canadian to Oregon borders down the middle of the state of Washington, will host the World Series for the third time in 11 summers. The first two were in the area’s largest town, Moses Lake (2000, 2009), which did a tremendous job playing host.

But in October of 2010, when the offer to come back to the basin was made, Columbia Basin Youth Baseball president Randy Boruff made a monumental decision – take the series to the heart of baseball success in Grant County and the Columbia Basin. Ephrata has a rich tradition in the game at the high school level (eight state championships, along with dozens of league, district and regional titles), and Johnson-O’Brien Stadium has been the site of dozens of epic baseball showdowns over the years.

And this year’s host team, the Columbia Basin River Dogs, is no stranger to success in Senior Babe Ruth. This will be the 10th World Series in the program’s history since 1995, a run that has seen the River Dogs reach the final four seven times and play in three championship games – the Dogs won the 16-year-old title in 1995, then captured the 16-18 year-old championship in 1998.

The City of Ephrata is the gateway to many recreational and entertainment area in the upper Columbia Basin, including Lake
Roosevelt and a series of lakes that run along the Columbia River that bring thousands of visitors every year to the area; Grand Coulee Dam, home of a laser light show nightly through the summer; The Gorge Amphitheater, an outdoor arena that hosts the biggest names in the music industry

Filed Under: 2011-07 July 2011, Events

Gone SUP’n!

Yoga like you’ve never experienced... SUPn!

Bob, having grown up as a ‘surfer’ in California, has always been drawn to the ocean and the waves. While in Hawaii a few years ago Bob was out surfi ng and he saw SUP (Stand Up Paddle) for the first time and knew he had to bring that to Moses Lake. Because of his passion for fi tness, fun and the water he knew this would be a winning combination. It was then that he and his wife Julie decided to start a business that would be a fun way for families to enjoy each other and get fi t in the process.

Gone SUP’n will give you a great workout in decidedly more exciting and beautiful surroundings then a gym or that treadmill you have in your garage. Imagine having fun working out and not to mention you will get a great tan!

What is SUP?

These boards (also called SUPs) are the latest fi tness sensation and fastest growing water-sport across the globe. SUPs appear to be large surfboards, and are propelled by standing paddler who uses an extra-long paddle. Stand Up Paddling originated in Hawaii, which mixes the traditional Polynesian outrigger canoe paddling with surfi ng. Fitness professionals have flocked to Stand Up Paddling not only because it’s fun and the cardiovascular benefi ts of the workout are superb, but also for the core-based balance challenge that the board provides to their clients. The result of this wonderful combination is a new sport that is easy for anyone to do.

SUP?! BEGINNER STAND UP PADDLE LESSONS

Stand up on a surfboard in calm waters for a beginner lesson with Bob and learn basic paddling skills. It can be treated as a hobby, a leisure activity, a core workout, upper and lower body workout, for improving performance in another sport, or simply to stay healthy. You can make your work-out be whatever you want it to be, and SUP will be great to strengthen your whole body, and boost up that core.

Cost: $15.00 for 1 hour.

YOGA ON THE WATER

Link your breathing to your moves in a yoga lesson that focuses on relaxation and overall body toning. As the board is floating on water, the paddler must constantly recruit deep stabilizing muscles of the core. When performing what seems to be a simple exercise like Leg Circles can be more challenging on a board. Not only will the participant be working the abdominals in flexion, they will be fi ring more stabilizers to maintain the stability on the unstable board. All-in-all, Julie’s yoga routines on the Stand Up Paddleboard are effective, challenging, and very fun! The best part is no experience necessary and fun for all ages.

Cost: $15.00 for 1 hour.

Bob Johnson, owner of Gone SUP’n!

PADDLEBOARD FITNESS LESSONS

Come by yourself; bring a friend or a whole group. Here Bob will get your heart pumping with power paddle and sprints lesson. Most sports you are using your arms and/or legs, but this one, you are mainly using your core. Just the fact that you need to balance on the board is already a huge core workout factor, and paddling through is all on your core. You can increase your arms strength and strengthen those legs, you may implement some squats as you paddle, lowering the hips, with feet shoulder width apart, pretending you are sitting back on a chair as you take your stroke backwards.

Cost: $15.00 for 1 hour.

DATE NIGHT PADDLES

This can be had at any time, morning, midday or early evening. Looking for something new, fun and exciting to do for a date? Look no further. At the end of your hour paddle along the shores of Moses Lake you will get to take home a bottle of Milbrandt Wine courtesy of Milbrandt Vineyard.

$40.00 a couple and must be 21 or over.

PADDLE PARTIES

What a fun time to get together and take to the water, whether it’s a Birthday Party, Family Reunion or just a group of friends that want to have some fi t summer fun.

Cost: $15.00 per board per hour

You can find Gone SUP’n on Facebook. All Yoga classes are listed on our Facebook page with dates and times. But if you have a group of 4-5 and would like a private yoga class let us know. To set up your beginner lesson, fitness lesson, paddle parties or date night you can call or text Bob at 509 750 6531.

We’ll see ya on the water cuz we Gone SUP’n.

Filed Under: 2011-07 July 2011

Q&A with Kayleen Simpson of Bohemian Roots Photography

VENUE Magazine: How do you describe yourself?

Kayleen Simpson: I would have to say I am a little bit of everything; I am driven but laid back, passionate, sometimes to a fault, and constantly creating new ideas in my head. Mix all of that together with a little kookiness and a lot of love and I am the result. I think of myself as a free spirit that is often out spoken and fiercly loyal to my family and friends.

VM: Why the name Bohemian Roots?

KS: Bohemian Roots is a nod to both my mothers and my own personal style. When I was a child, my mother seemed to have an infatuation with broomstick skirts and dragonfly earrings; patchouli was also a familiar scent in our home. As I got older my mother pushed me to find my own style, she did not want me to conform to the same standards as my peers. After years of second hand shops and antiques stores, I have grown to love things both old and new, which has now carried over to my photography. Bohemian Roots is my way of giving a little praise back to the woman who influenced me the most.

VM: I think of photography as a story being told and the photographer is the author. One image can tell a whole story, carry information and affect the senses of the person who sees it. How do you use your style and identity to communicate in today’s context?

KS: As cliché as it sounds life is a story, the good, bad, and the ugly, my goal is to capture those moments in a way that it reflects the beauty that’s often overlooked. I steer away from the norm because these days almost anyone can emulate that. Today’s society is so embracing of the individual; I just want to take it a step further by being a part of redefining beauty. My style tends to be more “mismatched” … the beauty queen in the junk yard, grandma’s sofa in the middle of a field; it’s not what first comes to mind but it works in a way that you notice the details. Our individual specialty shoots really speak to our strengths as a business. The client is able to have a unique, one of a kind experience, where they play out anything from the delicate and whimsy, to the dark and bizarre. If someone were to call tomorrow and explain that they love unicorns, I am going to find someone with a horse, get out my glitter, and make a horn! A photograph should symbolize a moment, a personality, it should show who you are, not who you were posed to be. I want to celebrate who my clients are presently in their lives, so that when they look back 20 years from now they smile.

VM: A great photo has many facets of energy…the composition, the use of light, color, what’s in the shot, what isn’t, the relationship of the photo to the times, the life circumstances of the photographer, the relationship between the photographer and the photo. What say you?

KS: I say cheers to that!….Every part of our daily lives is based off of some form of relationship, from the workplace, school, and home, how all of that flows together is based on how successful we make those relationships. With photography I have the ability to really play off of the emotions that my clients are experiencing in their lives. I really try to pick up on their vibes and often that’s where my inspiration comes from. Personally, my energy is affected by what’s going on around me; all of the chaos can make me feel the need for a burst of fresh air, photography has become my outlet, my fresh air. VM: Photography seems to be a profession where you have to constantly challenge yourself, re-invent your work and never being satisfied with mediocre. What do you do to get better?

KS: Photography is constantly evolving so I am continuously trying to better myself with education. More importantly though is inspiration, if you have that you’ll find a way to make it work. I am always on the lookout for new locations and I love finding art by local artists on my travels with my husband, I never cease to be inspired by other people’s creativity.

VM: How do you make the subject matter so compelling that the subject overcomes any inperfections in the photography?

KS: It all goes back to the relationship I develop with the client, once they feel that I am not only doing my job in a professional capacity but on a personal level as well I’m able to break down a lot of the comfort barriers. If a client feels comfortable there will always be an amazing photo despite any flaws, I say “be proud of the skin we live in”. I want to provide an experience the makes my clients want to tell their friends as well as keeping me in mind for their next event.

VM: Do you study the works of other photographers? Who inspires you the most? How does it help you to find your own expression?

KS: My biggest inspiration is my mother, Mary Fields who was a local photographer for over 15 years, my childhood was spent watching her capture the memories of others as well as carrying all of her camera equipment for her. Sadly, in 2010 she passed away after a 10 year battle with breast cancer, she continues to be my source of strength and the true voice behind my work. Her invaluable lessons have already guided me to more success than I could have imagined and I continue to feel a powerful link to her when I am using the cameras that were once her own.

VM: Our minds are triggered by images and photography relives adventures and misadventures alike. Every time you take a shot your are making a personal connection to the place and it’s people. You are there. You must have so much fun creating memories for people?

KS: From when I look through my lens, to editing photos, and then handing the final product to my client, each step is so rewarding. I definitely develop an emotional attachment to my clients; I’m celebrating their moments with them, their first kiss as husband and wife, their new born baby, or acting out an idea that has always been in the back of their head. As a photographer and hopefully a friend my job is to make the most of each adventure and capture the mishaps, the beauty, and everything in between.

VM: What is the latest developments with your blossoming business?

KS: The latest addition to Bohemian Roots is my 79’ Volks Wagon Bus! I have aptly named her my “gypsy-mobile” and soon she will have the company logo painted on the side so clients both current and future will see us coming from a mile away! Besides the bus I have also brought on Brandi Walter Engel, who is not only my soul sister but views the world through the same eyes as I do, she is providing much needed help behind the camera and the desk.

Filed Under: 2011-07 July 2011, People

Pull It Together

Creativity reaches into the deepest corners of consciousness, pulling you toward inspiration. Or is it inspiration reaches into the deepest corners pulling you toward creativity? I don’t really know. Do you? I do know if you stare hard enough into the corners you are flung back into reality and the creativity is put on hold until all things that need to be done are done before days end. So off you go taking care of life’s responsibilities all the while in an celestial state of imaginations lurking deeply in those creative corners of your mind displaying mental images of things not yet experienced and not actually present to the senses. But you believe, suppose, or guess you can take hold of an unknown and move it out of the corners
and into the center of your world, thus being inspired to be creative.

The working in concert with the determination to get things done and the ascertaining of creative endeavors takes passion with a will to channel it into something tangible and can be exhilirating to say the least. I know this to be true as creativity is my passion and I find at times 72 hours will pass and living off hot coffee and Dave’s insanity bread from Costco, I
will complete something, the whatever I began 72 hours ago and be completely elated when I conclude. Once done, I am inspired, yet it took being inspired to be done, so I am still unsure what comes first. Then again, does it really matter?

I am thinking what really matters is the chosen inspiration you draw from daily to create constructive, enlightened decisions you strongly live by (choose wisely) and your personal creation of outward inspiration you give to others so they can do the same.

Melea Johnson, Publisher

Filed Under: 2011-07 July 2011, Publisher Notes