This Texas based group has been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for over a decode from New York to Seattle, Las Vegas to Puerto Rico. Whether it be Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino, Vocal Trash continues to energize all ages with their first class singing, industrial style drumming, comedy antics and award winning break-dancing. “It’s an energy thing” says creator Steve Linder. This may just well be an understatement. Their performance is an astounding display of excellence, synchronization, excitement, precision, and musicianship performed by a superbly conditioned and highly skilled cast. Unlike many shows, it is the entire troupe that makes this seamless ensemble performance such a thrilling and uniquely complete experience. When it comes to diversity, Vocal Trash is, hands down, the ultimate variety show woven with picturesque urban tapestry. See why audiences worldwide are recycling their imagination as Vocal Trash redefines the meaning of high octane entertainment.

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.

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.

Big Bend Community College turns 50 years old

You don’t reach 50 years without building a rich heritage of tradition and excellence of which we can be very proud. The Big Bend Community College 50th anniversary provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate those traditions as well as to recognize shared accomplishments of the last 50 years in working together to ensure excellence in education and life-changing discoveries for our community families and our generations to come.
Yet even as BBCC takes the opportunity to honor the past, we as a community cannot help wonder what BBCC will look like when the next milestone of 100 years is reached?  While we undoubtedly can expect much to change over the next fifty years, we know the commitment to excellence in education will remain constant at Big Bend Community College. We as a community can expect nothing less.

Talking With Big Bend Community College
President William C. Bonaudi, Ed.D.

VM: We would like to know what exactly is the role of a college president?

Bonaudi: I’m usually trying to balance my off campus responsibilities against those involved in the academic year operations on campus. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re talking about a university or a community college president, both of us find that revenue stability and growth occupies most of our time. Externally at Big Bend my emphasis is with the activities of the BBCC Foundation, raising funds for scholarships, staff development, equipment, capital improvement, etc. These funds have always been important assistance for our students, but during our nation’s financial turmoil it’s absolutely critical support. There is no local tax support for training needed to help the parents of our K-12 students to secure employment or advance on the job.
Our biennial legislature meets yearly, an interesting concept!  I’ve been traveling to Olympia each year since I arrived in 1995, to help secure support for our growing student population. The past four years, I’ve been in Olympia, trying to minimize the size of the budget cuts we’ve been experiencing rather than seeking new funding.  This political effort extends to visits to Washington, D.C., seeking congressional assistance.
We have a saying at Big Bend, “Good things happen when we go off campus!” Our trustees have directed me since my arrival, to serve all students in our college district, all 4600 sq. miles of it. Primarily we overlap three legislative districts, the 9th, the 12th, and the 13th. We keep these nine legislators informed of our triumphs and our challenges. Between my own visits and those of several staff, we try to visit regularly with residents and employers in our 15 primary communities.

VM: How has it changed over the 50 years of BBCC?

Bonaudi: The president’s job at Big Bend, over the past 50 years has always had the internal and external demands noted above. I think the major change is the growth in the use of technology to provide instruction, counseling and advising services, and management of an annual institutional budget of more than $20 million, with 150 employees.

It’s remarkable that our relatively small college has had such visionary leaders, beginning with interested folks from Moses Lake and the surrounding communities who saw a need and spent 10 years advocating for a “junior college.” Dr. Phillips saw the potential in the closing of Larson Air Force Base, resulting in our current campus.  Dr. Wallenstien saw the potential of contracting with the US Army to provide basic skills and high school diplomas for our soldiers stationed in Europe. Dr. DeVries recognized the need to convert an air force base into a college and gave our campus a core physical plant structure that is architecturally pleasing and functional for educational activities.

VM: What do you like best about your position?

Bonaudi: A fundamental responsibility of my job is to set a vision for the college based on the mission as outlined by our trustees.
What we have today is evidence of a vision, and the critical aspect of the process of establishing a vision is to anticipate the future needs of our students and the tools our faculty and staff will need to help them achieve their goals.
My vision for Big Bend is to develop our resources, skills, and services, so that a growing audience views us as a visible, excellent resource for higher education. We want residents to see us as a first choice, a second chance, and a resource for life-long learning. If necessary, our future students will be able to use all of our resources from a distance. Our employers will join us with new partnerships so we can help to keep their workforce updated with skill improvement and new technologies, and help to attract new employees and employers to the region. Our students will seamlessly transfer to a growing number of locally available baccalaureate and graduate programs.
The campus will continue to develop as a community-gathering place, serving as the natural choice for meetings and community events, so that with each visit to the campus our visitors become more closely acquainted with the resource that Big Bend Community College represents to the central Columbia Basin.  Attendance and participation in our annual commencement ceremonies is the most visible way we report the success of our students and receive recognition from our communities for the excellent job our faculty and staff do.

I was blown away the first time I saw Bob Parsons photography. Even more so because the images are taken in native Washington State and showcase the awe inspiring world of beauty never to be taken for granted. I was also impressed with how personable Bob is and when we subsequently contacted him to ask if he was willing to answer a few questions, we were glad he agreed.

VM: What leads you to be interested in photograpy?

Being retired for the most part means I have a lot of spare time these days. Most of my working years moved at a pretty fast clip so I missed many interesting things. Now I try to see what’s a little different in the things we look at in the world around us. Since I have a camera with me about 99% of the time, I try to capture those times to share with others. I spend my time shooting landscapes, car shows, and anything else that interests me, or catches my attention.

VM: How do you summarize your photography?

• I enjoy the process of…looking at something I would like to shoot and trying to figure out a way to draw the viewer’s eye to a particular element. It may be the light or the patterns or texture. It might be the right depth of field, or a specific focus point. I guess I would have to say that the problem solving is one process that I do enjoy.

• My work deals with…anything I can take pictures of, except…weddings, family reunions, and school pics.

• My work is…my way of documenting the places I go and the things I see. I can record the beauty, diversity, and the power of nature. I also enjoy shooting minute details in things. I’m doing more macro work these days.

• I am fascinated with…the ways to manipulate light, whether it be with filters or adjustments like f-stops and shutter speeds. The number of ways to use flash lighting and studio lights. The information that can be learned is endless.

• The purpose behind my work is…to satisfy myself, and hopefully to share something beautiful with others. I shoot hoping people will notice the smaller details, rather than see only the large picture.

• I like the idea that…what I do is available to anyone with an interest. Looking through a lens puts an entirely new perspective on ones view. I like the idea that there is no one right way to do this craft, and that every persons input is valuable in some way. I like the fact that others seem to be enjoying my work. I’d really enjoy it if people bought my work.

• I am exploring the…world of macro, close up photography. I’m also exploring the idea of making abstract art photos out of extreme close ups. We’ll see what happens.

• My technique…is strictly my own. I’m 99% self taught. I took one semester of black and white photography class in eighth grade and was on the yearbook staff two years in Jr. High. Other than that I picked up my technique by reading as much as I can, and from looking at photos by photographers that I admire and envy. Oh, I took a Photoshop class at WVC.

• When I begin a piece I…usually don’t have a clue exactly where it’s going. I generally start with somewhat of a rough idea and let things happen as I shoot and try different things.

VM: Water Art ~ How did this happen?

Water art for me started almost by accident. I was learning to use some new filters and couldn’t get the lighting right. I kept setting smaller and smaller apertures and slower shutter speeds until the pictures were so dark they were black. When I got home and looked at them on the computer I could see the water stopped in the fast shutter speed shots and blurred in the slow speed shots. I really liked the cotton candy effect. I started combining the effects of slow shutter speeds and deep depth of field into some waterfall shots and liked it. After that I started trying it on several different types of moving water and liked those too. Now it has become part of all of my water pics. I like the suggestion of movement. On the rare occasion that I get it exactly right, it’s almost like being there.

The day her college art professor took a close look at her drawings, life changed for Laura Mayer. Up until then, with an academic scholarship earned as the Valedictorian of her Ephrata High School senior class, she determined to major in business. But her professor saw unique talent not to be overlooked and expressed his opinion saying, “you are really good….Art major good!’

“My parents greatest gift to me was to tell me if someone else can do it…you can do it, too”, states Mayer. With that learned self confidence and the confirmation by her professor, it did not take Laura but one day to change her major and begin her journey with the art, finishing with a Fine Arts Degree, and specializing in ceramics. She holds a BFA in Ceramics/BA in Art Education from Brigham Young University.

“I love clay”, says Mayer, “it is fascinating to make a three-dimensional form out of nothing. I like the form, but I also like the decoration of its surface. This is where the painter in me comes out. I like making things that can be used daily…functional pottery. It is like a beautiful painting you can eat out of! It feeds you physically and spiritually. Some day I may make fancy sculpture and deep meaning things, but I like every day use of art. It makes art most acceptable, I think.”

“Sculpture is a passion of mine. When I was younger I used to go to Lowe’s Hardware and open up all the drawers and study the contents, trying to figure out how I could use every nut or bolt or fastener in a sculpture. I was developing my visual vocabulary and filing it away.”

Laura taught 6-12 grade Art for several years at the Waterford School in Utah, a very prestigious private school, where art was the core of things and all things radiated off the art. Her experience there taught her how much she enjoys teaching others and helping to unlock the sparkle they get, when the get it. But she was 800 miles from home. She came back. (We are glad she did.)

Once back and teaching community art classes and working at a hardware store, Laura had another inspiring person enter her world. With the great help of Jim Perdue, her loving partner (of now 10 years), she was encouraged to open ARTGARDEN in Ephrata. Was a great success for a time, but Laura had her eyes on ­Moses Lake.

Today, her new ARTGARDEN Pottery store on Third Ave is three times the size and the excitement within the community has ramped up, knowing Mayer has the ability to make this store…very cool. She is able to continue offering beautiful handmade pottery and artwork created by herself and other local artists in the gift shop gallery in the front part of the store. The new addition of a paint your own pottery studio in the middle of the store, let’s you be the artist, combining art and entertainment.

ARTGARDEN Pottery is also home to Laura’s working artist studio. Catch a glimpse of her latest creations in clay and more. Classes? Yes, classes will be available for all ages 3 to 103, in clay, watercolor, soldering, mosaics, jewelry and more. Check store for sign up dates and learn about the special events she has planned.

Discover your inner artist as you drop in anytime, pull a pot off the shelf and start painting. It’s that easy! Fun for all ages and no appointment required, stop in anytime.

ARTGARDEN Pottery::104 West Third Ave, Moses Lake

509.765.1333 or on facebook @ Artgarden Pottery, on facebook under Laura Mayer, or www.artgardenlaura.blogspot.com