May 19, 2012

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Ray G and the Dime Store ­Prophets

A band bio and a talk with Joe LaRosee

How Moses Lake got it’s Groove back

Ray G and the Dime Store Prophets have established themselves as an engaging, hard working musical unit over the last year playing over forty five shows in Washington State including an opening gig for the Zac Brown Band at the Gorge Amphitheater.
The DSP are currently gearing up for the release of their new album Something New to be released April 27th at the Pillar Rock Grill in Moses Lake. There is no cover charge and everyone is invited to attend. The eight track album ($9.99) consists of six original compositions including the title track “Something New” accompanied by an outstanding reggae rendition of the classic hit “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas, as well as “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison.
The album was tracked here in Moses Lake by local engineer Bruce Nelson, who has done work in the past for Moses Lake’s own Two Camel Garage, and mixed by John Wilson and Bruce Nelson.
“We looked into booking time at a big Seattle studio”, said John Wilson, “but we decided that staying local would save on costs and allow us to spend a greater amount of time making sure the music was as good as it could be.”
The DSP’s originals are made up of Ray G’s poignant vocal narratives with euphoric guitar placed on the solid crowd moving rhythm platform that John and Eric provide. The result is an act that has plenty of energy, soul and listen-ability that far too many bands today cannot seem to muster. Think a more heartfelt Jason Mraz without all the self important overtones.
Although Ray G and the DSP are officially adding a new member (Ray Logan, sax/keys/gtrs) to the roster at the CD release party, the current band roster is as follows:
Ray G who fronts the Band has been a solid single performer around the area and brings a number of influences to the table including, Ben Harper, Sublime, Jack Johnson among others. Ray’s writing communicates powerful emotions clearly and in his live performance he brings an intimacy that allows the band to connect with the audience on a deeper level.
As the drummer for Ray G and the DSP, John Wilson brings a diverse background into the personality of the band. Having played in and around the western part of the United States over the last few years John’s strong professional work ethic and his commitment have gained him experience that has developed him into a truly gifted drummer. John has been influenced by the likes of John Bonham, the Dave Matthews band, and Tower of Power.
Holding down the low end of the band, bass player Eric Groff has been a musician on the local and regional scene for almost 2 decades. Through Eric’s many years of playing with different musicians and styles he has developed a laid back in the pocket no nonsense approach to bass playing. Eric sights his influences as the Clash, Bob Marley, and Madness.

New album release April 27 at Pillar Rock Grill. No cover charge and you are invited. Be there.

Filed Under: People

Test Your Daytime…Sleepiness

by Eric Haeger, MD, Board Certified Sleep Medicine

Answer these questions regarding your daytime sleepiness and take the results to your Primary Care Physician or Board Certified Sleep Physician to see if you would benefit from having a sleep study.

 

Filed Under: Health & Fitness

How Can I Cut Back On My Sugar Intake and Is It Really That Bad for Me?

by Wendi Nickell, Certified Nutrition Practitioner & Licensed Massage Practitiioner

Sugar is completely non-nutritive, terribly acid-forming to our system, pro-inflammatory, fuels yeast, fungus, cancer, contributes to depression, and raises triglycerides and cholesterol. If that doesn’t raise an eyebrow, sugar also breaks down the collagen in your skin and ages you more quickly than you need to.
Worst of all, sugar is just as addictive as cocaine.

Here are some helpful strategies:
1.    Identify and understand your sugar triggers. These can be stress, intoxication, boredom, hunger, feeling tired, or a post-lunch dip in energy. Commit to a plan for other outlets to deal with these triggers in order to break this habitual behavior. Go for a walk or drink a hot tea instead. If you’re hungry, plan for a satisfying, non-sweet snack, such as hummus with raw vegetables or plain yogurt with almonds and coconut.
2.     Eat well. It may seem obvious, but when the body is well-nourished, it doesn’t seek empty calories.
3.     Start your day with something savory. You are more likely to trigger sugar cravings during the day if you eat something sweet for breakfast. Instead, choose the opposite, such as a vegetable omelet or a boiled egg.
4.     Choose nutritive forms of sweet. We still need to satisfy the body’s desire for sweet, but we can do that with more nutrient-dense “sweet” foods such as sweet potatoes, roasted root vegetables, even cooked onions. Other foods you can use to mimic sweetness without adding sugar are spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg; vanilla, unrefined coconut oil (I cook pancakes and French toast with coconut oil);  If you struggle with sugar cravings, be careful about consuming excess fresh fruit.
5.     Commit to three days sugar-free. Sugar cravings are best tackled cold turkey. Many people find that after three days of no sugar, the cravings stop completely. Beware of hidden sources of sugar in foods such as power bars, sauces and salad dressings, cereal, tomato sauce, and non-dairy milks. If you’re not sure, read your labels!
6.     Don’t switch to artificial sweeteners. Don’t make the mistake of swapping one poison for another. The only things more acid-forming than sugar are artificial sweeteners such as Splenda and Aspartame. Not only that, studies show that artificial sweeteners promote weight gain and, you guessed it, more sugar cravings.
7.     Sugar is sugar. Although it may be tempting to load up on alternative, “natural” sweeteners such as maple syrup which may be less refined, boast a few more nutrients than processed sugar, they will still fuel any addiction you might have to sugar. Stevia, a naturally sweet, carb-free herb, and is one of the few natural sweeteners that doesn’t trigger cravings.
8.     Remove all sweets from the house. Do a full clean-out – no mercy here.
9.     Try an acupuncture addiction treatment. If you feel like you need extra support, acupuncture can be effective by creating a sense of well-being without the need to fill any voids with sugar or other temporary mood enhancers, like alcohol, cigarettes, etc.

If you have struggled with sugar cravings and are dealing with addictive foods, consider contacting a Nutrition Therapist for continued support.

Filed Under: Health & Fitness

MAC Free Family Saturdays

The first Saturday of every month, between 12 noon and 2pm, the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center (MAC) sponsors a free family activity or special program.
Free Family Saturday is fun for the whole family, and is open to all ages. Activities fill on a first come first serve basis and run until supplies have been exhausted.

April 7th
TREASURE BOXES!

May 5th
BUBBLE ART!

June 2nd
LUAU!

Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
(until supplies are exhausted)

 

Moses Lake Museum & Art Center
401 S. Balsam Street  • Moses Lake, WA 98837

Museum admission is always free!

Contact: Ann Golden
www.mlrec.com
agolden@cityofml.com • 509-764-3825

Filed Under: Visual Arts

Marianne Kirwan, Executive Director of MLBA

Working to make Laketown Landing, the Moses Lake
shopping district, the very best it can be

 

Venue Mag sees good things happening in downtown Moses Lake. A visit with Marianne tells us why.

Q: What interests you about your position as director?
As the Executive Director of the Moses Lake Business Association I have the privilege of coordinating the efforts of the members and community to revitalize our downtown.  I represent the MLBA at many community organizations and work with many different people.  It’s always changing and very active so I am never bored!

Q. What motivates you?
Encouragement, volunteers, merchants, community members…all sharing of themselves to make this community the best it can be.  Just today one of the newest merchants in LakeTown Landing made a fantastic post on the mlbacares.org Facebook page.  It said “It was so exciting walking down Third Avenue last night…a busy restaurant of happy customers enjoying the art of sushi @Tsunami Sushi, a BEAUTIFUL art exhibit by Julie Peterson @ Red Door Consignment, a fun preschool Art Show @ Imbibe for the BBCC COOP Preschool & then PAINT TIL YA FAINT Artgarden Pottery…so great to have so many people CELEBRATING ART on a Friday Night::Can’t wait til next months First Friday Excitement:: April 6th!! The Tsunami Sushi Girls were having a GREAT TIME after work!”

Q. If you had to describe to a friend or colleague what you do, what might you tell them?
I work for the revitalization of LakeTown Landing, Moses Lake’s downtown shopping district.  I work to create partnerships with other community minded organizations, the City of Moses Lake, and service clubs.  I coordinate events to bring people to our downtown.  I try to be a sounding board for local merchants sometimes brainstorming, sometimes gathering information and sometimes advocating for them.  I encourage merchants to work together to coordinate promotions that will gather many locals and tourists alike to shop.  I help plan events like the Basin BBQ Bash, LakeTown Landing Trick or Treat, LakeTown Landing Street Tree Lighting and the Ag Parade and Street Party.  I work with local musicians and entertainers, cut radio spots and put up flyers.  I go to meetings and host meetings.  I even coordinate hanging and taking down banners, wreaths and holiday lights, and rent out tables!

Q. Do you work another job in our community?
I don’t really consider the things I do to be jobs; however, I recently renewed my Real Estate Brokers license and help out at Get Rich Quick Properties, LLC.  I volunteer my time to many groups and also have a 14 month old daughter, which could be considered a full-time job in itself.

Q. How do you describe living in (and on) Moses Lake? Tell us about your family?
I love living in Moses Lake.  I have lived in a lot of different places throughout my life but Moses Lake is my favorite.  I live on the lake in a small home that needed a lot of TLC.  We love to work on the house and love living on the lake.  The MLIRD has done a fantastic job taking care of our lake and it is a fantastic view!  Our neighbors are great. We work hard and when we relax we enjoy boating and camping.  Last year we purchased a Classic 1982 VW Camper Bus and we loved going out in that last summer.  I also enjoy reading, gardening and baking.

Q. What is it about your personality that creates your ability to work as a team with others?
Just as I have lived in many places, I have done so many different things in my life.  I can draw on both my experiences and others that I have known.  I love to brainstorm.  Working with others to make things happen comes easy for me.  I am a positive person, open minded and get things done.

Q. What does MLBA do different than the Chamber? How do you work together?
First let me say that MLBA and Chamber are members of each other’s organizations.  We work closely together on many things and both Debbie and I attend many of the same meetings with other organizations as we all work together to create a more cohesive Moses Lake.
The MLBA is specifically focused on the revitalization of downtown Moses Lake, what is called LakeTown Landing.  There are over 200 businesses located in LakeTown Landing.  It doesn’t mean that you have to be in LakeTown Landing to be a member of the MLBA, actually we have many members who are not part of that core.  Our members share a common goal.  They want to see Moses Lake be the best it can be and to be that we must have a healthy downtown core.  Sometimes I refer to it as the Living Room of Moses Lake.  If you don’t have a great place for people to live, work and play you won’t have a thriving community.  It is proven over time that when a business is thinking of expanding or moving to a community they look at what that community has to offer to their potential employees.  We work hard at the MLBA to encourage merchants in LakeTown Landing, to beautify our downtown, to host events for the community members and tourists and to be a vibrant place to be.

Q. How many businesses are members of MLBA?
Right now there at about 125 businesses and individual members.  For more information about membership please contact me or go to our website www.mlbacares.org.

Q. What are the benefits of membership?
MLBA provides many different benefits to its members.  A few examples are education, networking, advocacy, newsletters, updates, events, community service, group representation on issues, and special group advertising pricing.  Often it is easier for a group to speak up about an issue than for one person or business.

Q. Tell us about a project that was well-received by the community. Why do you think it was so successful?
We have been spearheading the LakeTown Landing Flower Pot Project since 2007.  This project is in direct alignment with the goals of the MLBA.  The flower pots add beautiful color to our downtown from May to October.  The Moses Lake High School FFA Students have grown, planted and removed the flowers since 2009.  It is a great way to encourage the youth of our community to take pride in their downtown.  It encourages their emerging sense of community and service.  I recently surveyed the community about this project.  Overwhelmingly the people of our town like the flower pots and the beauty they bring to our downtown.

Q. What are the 2012 projects planned?
Our new Board of Directors was just elected and they will determine if any new projects are going to be started, but I know we will continue many that we have been doing for years.  We will continue to decorate downtown.  We are committed to a two-day Basin BBQ Bash this year, September 22nd and 23rd.  We will have the LakeTown Landing Trick or Treat Event as well as the LakeTown Landing Holiday Street Tree Lighting.  The 18th Annual Holiday Lighted Agricultural Parade and Street Party will be on November 30th this year.

Q. How do you motivate a business whose performance is fine but you know has the potential to do better?
The MLBA offers MLBA Nite Out events four times each year.  These events are for networking, encouragement and education.  They are times when merchants can get together, talk about what works for them or issues they face.  I am always just a phone call away if someone has an issue or wants to talk.
I am available to meet with any business owner on a one on one basis as well and many times can connect them with services that might meet their needs.

Q: Talk about how you think a community can overcome obstacles?
Participation and education are the primary ways communities overcome obstacles.  We have many new businesses in our downtown.  There are over 200 businesses in LakeTown Landing.  Participating in events, eating out, walking downtown are all ways the public can get involved.  Encourage a small business owner.  Just think, buying a gift for a family member will help put a small business owners child in dance class instead of helping the CEO of a huge company to buy their new yacht.
If people Shop Small … the impact to small business will be HUGE!

Q. What are the obstacles?
In our community many people believe that they must go out of town to shop.  I encourage everyone to shop local first!  There are many wonderful stores, services and restaurants in our town.  By shopping local we support our local economy.  For every one dollar spent in a local business, 68% returns to the local economy.  Shopping local saves time, money, gas and our local economy.

Q. What do people not know about MLBA?
The MLBA is made up of very active, dedicated volunteers and business owners who make a lot of things happen in our area.  The MLBA does not receive any funding from city, state or federal government.  Our funding comes from membership dues and the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program.

Q. Tell me about the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program.
The Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program is a program that allows businesses to direct the B&O taxes they pay to their own downtown instead of sending it to Olympia for them to distribute.
The Main Street Tax Credit Incentive provides a B&O Tax Credit for private contributions to eligible downtown organizations.  MLBA is the eligible downtown organization in Moses Lake.

As an example:  If your 2012 Contribution is $1,000
·         The MLBA receives $1,000
·         Your 2012 Federal Income Tax deduction is $1,000
·         Your 2013 B&O Tax Credit is $750

Just think…the same donation toward your own downtown gives you a B&O Tax Credit AND a Federal Tax Deduction.  Good for you and good for Moses Lake!

For more information, please feel free to give me a call at 764-1745.

Filed Under: People

“Birding the Basin” Othello Sandhill Crane Festival

A wildlife wonder, the Sandhill Crane (Grus candensis), returns to the Othello, Washington area just in time for the Sandhill Crane Festival, March 23 to March 25, organized in their honor. Established in 1998, this unique festival celebrates the yearly arrival of approximately 25,000 Sandhill Cranes to the area and hundreds of people for activities, lectures on a variety of wildlife, geology and history topics, presentations, tours for viewing the area wildlife, including the cranes, as well as some of the interesting landscape created by the Ice Age floods 12,000 years ago.
The cranes migrate in great flocks from their wintering areas in California all the way to Alaska. Why do they stop in Othello? A bird guide will tell you the cranes are here because like the farmers, the cranes are drawn by the irrigation project. What the birds find today are safe haven roosting sites by seep lakes, plus lots of food in the form of residue grain. Fields of corn stubble are a favorite as they bulk up for the last leg of their journey.  In the Spring, crane flocks spend about six weeks in the central part of the Basin.

Featured speakers see page 9.
“Birding the Basin”  ~ Friday evening

“Calling all Bird(er)s” ~ Saturday evening banquet

Both Friday and Saturday, more energetic visitors can take part in a Biking for Crane tour. Join in the fun as the group pedals 20 to 25 miles round trip to view the sandhill cranes and, hopefully, a few burrowing owls – another feature of the festival that draws visitors each year. These whimsical creatures are a joy to watch and are becoming rarer every year.
After a day of tours and lectures, head for Reichert’s Showhouse to view the movie “Return of the Eagle,” narrated by Billy Ray Cyrus. The small $6 entry includes popcorn and soda.
This family festival is designed to be of interest to anyone, not just birdwatchers. Even the children will learn about wildlife with a variety of activities designed just for them.
All presentations are held at the Othello High School. There is a $7 entry fee for adults. Seniors are $5 and children under 12 are free with paid adult admission. All lectures and activities are free. Bus tours range from $10 to $50 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to get your reservations soon.
Friday evening’s tours board at the local U.S. Fish and Wildlife building. Saturday’s events and Sunday’s tours take place at Othello High School.
The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival is run by an all volunteer committee. All proceeds go toward providing the following year’s events.

The brochure is available for download on the website, through e-mail by contacting Marie Lotz at marie-lotz@wa.nacdnet.org or regular postal service by calling
(866) 726-3445.

Filed Under: Community

Save the Date for Cellarbration!

by Doug Sly

For Education….
BBCC 50th Anniversary Theme

It was easy to pick the theme for this year’s scholarship fundraiser Cellarbration! For Education at Big Bend Community College.
The College celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012.
“We hope people can put together alumni tables from each decade since 1962 to help us with the 50th anniversary theme,” said Judy Oakes, co-Chair of this year’s event. “We want to recognize the accomplishments of Big Bend’s students of the last 50 years at the same time we are supporting scholarships.”
Cellarbration! For Education is a premium wine dinner and auction known for pairing a five-course gourmet dinner with Washington wines, combined with exceptional service and décor.
The event raises funds through cash sponsorships, ticket sales and auction items. The proceeds support scholarships for recent high school graduates, returning students, professional/technical students and for helping students cope with financial emergencies.
Back again this year is the “Bling” raffle for a one carat diamond from Harrison’s Diamonds and Designs.  The event again includes another Leonetti wine auction—a chance to bid on wines unavailable to those not on the winery’s waiting list.
The committee is soliciting sponsorships and auction items for the event. Those who would like to be involved can contact the BBCC Foundation at 793-2006 for sponsorship forms, auction donation forms or to make reservations.

Facts from Big Bend’s Past

•    A summer labor strike delayed completion of the first BBCC campus in 1962, so the first classes were held in Moses Lake High School in September.
•    There were 20 “Charter Graduates” in the first graduating class of BBCC in 1963.
•    Ty Ballinger, a successful Moses Lake businessman, was BBCC’s first basketball coach in 1963.
•    Gov. Albert Rosellini gave the dedication address for Big Bend Community College on April 5, 1964.
•    The price of coffee in the student union building was increased from a nickel to a dime in 1964 because students were leaving such a mess. It was lowered to a nickel again after students agreed to clean up after themselves.
•    Enrollment at BBCC dropped 30 percent in 1966 following closure of Larson Air Force Base.
•    All full-time female students were members of the Associated Women Students (AWS) in 1964. Their activities included organizing the Festival of Hearts Ball, Mothers’ Banquet, and Installation Lunch.
•    Full-time male students were members of the Circle K, a men’s service organization affiliated with the Kiwanis Club.
•    In 1967, BBCC men played on the tennis team and women played on the badminton team.
•    The Rifle Pistol Club was one of the first clubs formed at BBCC in 1963 and had three female members.
•    Jon Lane was won a national junior college wrestling championship at 152 lbs. for Big Bend in 1967. Today Jon is a member of the BBCC Board of Trustees.
•    A student was dismissed from the Big Bend commercial pilot program in 1968 for growing a beard. The student took the matter to court, and a judge ruled in favor of the College.
•    Tuition for 18 credits at BBCC cost $83 per quarter in 1976, and people complained about the high cost. In 2011, tuition for an 18-credit load costs $1,180.
•    From 1973 to 1977, Big Bend awarded 18,000 Washington State High School diplomas to U.S. military personnel stationed in Europe through the PREP program. No other high school in the state awarded that many diplomas during that time.
•    BBCC journalism students interviewed Walter Cronkite by speaker phone for 40 minutes in 1980. Journalism instructor Dave Johnson worked with Cronkite for United Press International in the Midwest in the 1940’s.
•    The BBCC administration presented tentative plans to start the commercial pilot and aviation maintenance technology programs on Nov. 25, 1964. The proposal was submitted to the Moses Lake School Board.
History of Cellarbration! for Education
…What does black tie optional mean?

The Big Bend Community College Foundation Scholarship Fund was in decline in 2001. A new annual scholarship fundraiser was needed, or scholarships would have to be reduced.
The Board met with John Allen for four hours to learn about organizing a fund raiser featuring a gourmet dinner prepared by an executive chef.  Allen, owner of Vino! A Wine Shop in Spokane, had been instrumental in aiding a number of organizations in raising revenue with similar models.  Allen’s message boiled down to this:  charge $100 a plate for a dinner of fine food and wine, advertised as black tie optional and paired with silent and live auctions.
Doubt filled the room.  Board members squirmed.  This board had never risked anything like this before.  Were there enough people in this area who would dress up and pay $100 to attend a fundraiser?  Allen knew it could work.
“What does ‘black tie optional’ mean?” the board asked.
“It means women dress their men,” said Allen.
The first “Gourmet Wine Dinner and Auction” was held in 2002 at the Moses Lake Golf Club.  Seating was limited by the venue to 110 guests and the event sold out.  The Foundation raised $25,000 for scholarships.  It was a rewarding start—at that time the most successful fund raiser ever held by the BBCC Foundation.
In 2005 the event was brought home to the BBCC campus with the opening of the Grant County Advanced Technologies Education Center (ATEC).  The new Masto Conference Center provided a venue for 225 guests and a new kitchen worthy of an executive chef.  The event was renamed “Cellarbration! for Education”
Income increased each year and topped $90,000 by 2010.  In its first 10 years, gross proceeds from Cellarbration! for Education have topped $700,000 and the Foundation’s scholarship fund is being fed by increased generosity.
Most important, the success of Cellarbration! for Education has provided new opportunities for the Foundation to educate local people about the needs and successes of the College’s students, for increasing donors to share in that success, and for the community to celebrate it with a cork-popping blast.

John Allen was right…..about everything.

Impact of Cellarbration! for Education

•    The BBCC Foundation awards scholarships to recent high school graduates of 15 primary communities in the College’s service district.
•    Cellarbration! for Education also funds scholarships for returning students who have been out of school awhile. The average age of BBCC students is 28.
•    The Foundation Scholarship Fund has a special application to make scholarship awards to professional/technical students.
•    Cellarbration! for Education raises money for the Intervention Scholarship Fund, which helps students cope with financial emergencies so they can stay in school.
•    Since 2002, more than 600 scholarships have been awarded from the Foundation Scholarship Fund, all made possible by the success of Cellarbration! for Education.

Filed Under: Community

MLBA Nite Out, Next Nite Out April 17

Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Contributors, MLBA Members, LakeTown Landing business owners and those interested in the Moses Lake Business Association attended the Moses Lake Business Association’s Quarterly Nite Out on Tuesday, February 21st.
There was networking, hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting by Camas Cove Cellars in MLBA’s conference room in Desert Plaza at Third & Alder in LakeTown Landing.
The featured speaker for the evening was Patrick Malone (MS/PCED) WSU Extension Service Community Vitality and Columbia Area Asset Building Team Member. Patrick is passionate about small business and their importance in our communities. He spoke about the benefits of working with other businesses, cross promotions and more. He touched on topics all business owners could relate too and told the group of 50 attendees to think larger than they are, being a part of a group such as the MLBA gives businesses and even larger voice and presence in the community. It’s about the “experience” of downtown and shopping local and not about individual businesses. Creating strategic business partnerships with other businesses and how these partnership come into play on a day-to-day basis makes businesses stronger.  Patrick says, “Businesses need to build a cohesive puzzle, don’t just be an isolated piece (an integrated network of businesses performing together.”
Patrick also touched on the idea that small business is not sales based, small business is customer service based. How can we partner with our other local businesses and create value added incentives, share referrals and drive business between our businesses? It’s about building these relationships with each other than makes the community stronger.
Patrick currently teaches the “Starting Your Own Business” workshop put on by The Prosperity Center. In his class of business entrepreneurs and those looking to freshen up their business skills he encourages them to have $0 startup costs, he suggests doing this by looking beyond purchasing items but using the bartering system. Because cash flow is a challenge to all businesses it’s worth taking a second look at how you can barter. For example, bartering with a local furniture store for a display in your store, thus making everything for sale, driving traffic to the furniture store and then in turn they can give your business name out as a referral as well.
The evening concluded with prize giveaways donated by area businesses. The prize winners were: Stephanie Voigt (Cornfusion Gourmet Popcorn) winning the full-page ad from The Columbia Basin Herald & Royal Register; Joey Hernandez (Inland Cellular) winning a full-page ad in VENUE Magazine; Cindy Alporque (Essentials Skin & Wellness Center) winning radio spots from KWIQ-Country 100.3; LuAnn Hayford (Furniture Center) winning graphic design and business cards from Michaelle Boetger Graphic Designs; and Jenelle Ottmar (SocialBasin.com) winning a gift basket from Inland Cellular.
Thanks to all our sponsors for making this event possible. The next quarterly MLBA Nite Out is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17th from 5:30-7:30pm at Desert Plaza (Third & Alder) in LakeTown Landing. If you area Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Contributor, MLBA Member, LakeTown Landing business owner or interested in the Moses Lake Business Association you are invited to attend this event. For more information check out our website, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter or become a fan of MLBAcares.org on Facebook.

Filed Under: Community

Top Five Reasons to Hire an Interior Designer

by Lenae Haugen, Silver Sage Design Studio

Are you thinking about hiring an interior designer?

On one hand you are intrigued by the idea of professional help, but on the other hand you may be apprehensive.  There is a common fear you’re your home will not look like you. My job is to make sure you feel so good in your space that you never want to leave.  You might have a great sense of style or at least a firm idea of what kind of interiors appeal to you. You might be able to select furnishing from a furniture store, colors from Sherwin Williams and wood tones that just say “you”. So one might think that you don’t need a designer or interior decorator, right?  WRONG!

Having some style and sense of your likes and dislikes is a great starting point, but there are so many more factors to creating a well-designed room than simply filling it with your favorite things. I’ll use myself as a perfect example.  I used to love jacquard fabrics. LOVED them. Everything I chose was a jacquard. Well, sorry to say I learned the hard way early on that too much of a good thing is just too much. Other textures were needed to pull the look together.
Still, hiring a designer is a major step. So how do you know when to go it alone and when to call in a professional?

Life is busy.

Whether you work outside the home or not, life is going on all around us at a break neck speed. As someone who does this for a living, believe me, researching products and finding the perfect choices take time. Each month I spend days perusing product showrooms and workrooms to see what is new and inspiring. That’s almost one month of time in the course of a year. Staying up to date of what is available is so important to help select the best products for each client. Every home and situation is a unique circumstance to change things up a little. Creating distinctive interiors takes a commitment of time and patience.

A designer’s job is to create an environment that respects your lifestyle and design vision.

We all get ideas from friends and magazines, but the difference is how it relates to your space and your life.  A black granite countertop might look great in the magazines, but for someone who hates the look of any dust or fingerprints will be a slave to keeping it clean. A qualified designer should have the experience to let you know how a product wears.

Knowledge is power.

As a designer I have had the pleasure to work on many homes in every aspect. From entire construction projects, blueprints, furnishings, to something as simple as just window coverings, I see how things all relate to each other in each phase. Something as simple as selecting placement of lighting in a new construction project becomes something more as you move in your furniture and the chandeliers are in the wrong location.  A designer sees form and function all the way thru. Many of my recent window coverings clients thought it was a good idea to upgrade to arched windows in the building phase. This is a beautiful look, but also adds a large expense to provide privacy once moved in.  A little knowledge on the front end might have given them a clearer view of the total cost of their decisions.

A keen eye for color.

How many of you have heard stories of friends repainting rooms or entire homes because the paint was just not right? Who pays for that? The cost of a simple color consult for  as little as $200 ensures that your beige is not too pink,  your green not too minty and your gray not too blue. It also ensures that the other items in your home are enhanced to their best potential. Lime green walls might not be the best color against your maple cabinets but could be brought out in draperies, art and upholstery giving you a richer feel. Or as I have experienced, decorating a room around a faulty color just causes expense and long term problems. I have many before and after photos in my portfolio of rooms that homeowners thought they had painted their dream color and ended up with a mess. Selecting an entire plan is beneficial and ensures that you should have to paint only once.

Hiring a designer actually pushes you to complete a project.

When you invest in an idea and catch the vision it somehow gives you purpose and a solid direction where you may have had none. It’s so easy to live each day in a home that does not make you happy dreaming of someday creating a better environment. Have you designed your home a thousand times in your mind? Completing nothing? Designers know how to take an idea and map it out in steps for a final look that is chic, coordinated and complete. A second set of eyes gives you fresh perspective and the courage to take the first step in creating an environment that can make you and your family thrive.

If you are at all curious about how the interior design process works and how it can work for you, come on down to Silver Sage or look up our portfolio and articles on Facebook. Until we meet…happy decorating!

Filed Under: Lifestyle

It’s not easy going green…or is it?

Let’s talk about identity… What does it mean to have identity? Identity is that special thing that makes you you… between you and God or the universe. It’s a very significant choice that one makes about who they are or who they will become in this world. For some, identity is very important. It’s a form of survival, climbing on a journey sometimes alone, sometimes not to get to a certain destination, making all kinds of decisions, mistakes, successes all of which are very necessary part of our soul.
Some, however, choose the path of least resistance, jumping on a band wagon going along at an easy pace through life never knowing what it means to push and pull. Perhaps choosing what everyone else is doing and never choosing for oneself.
In the business world, we find both kinds of people… leaders and followers. The leaders are the creative, self-thinkers that form the path and the followers are the ones that let the leaders do the work and gain the benefit. Hmmm… which is best? For me?… I’m a path maker! Hey! That’s sounds like a name of a car!
Being creative, whether in business or in life is something that sets people apart. It’s absolutely necessary to have both kinds. Creativity doesn’t necessarily mean being an artist… it means thinking outside the box. Being able to be confident in your abilities to either make a decision, business or personal or actually create something… perhaps a new green skin care line, a new way to lessen fine lines and wrinkles, or an awesome way to do makeup… Did I say green skin care?! Check back with me on that… you never know…
Green seems the way of the future nowadays… what does it really mean? The first thing that comes to mind is eco-friendly, organic, pure, from the earth… wouldn’t it be awesome to get great skin naturally without using chemicals and using only what comes from the earth? Cranberries, mud, charcoal, olive oil, are only a few ingredients that are awesome for our skin.
What if there was a skin care line that was not only eco-friendly, priced economically, biodegradable bottles, cleansed impurities, toned and tightened, smelled wonderful, traveled easily, and all came from the earth but also performed the way some of the other high-end non-organic brands did? Organic yet sophisticated. I’d say… show it to me now!
I know it’s hard for a Diva to think organic or green… so I say a Diva should think Emerald! Watch for my new green line!

Filed Under: Health & Fitness
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