Writer / Editor / Photographer
If you see a guy with a pink beard cruising down the highway on a Harley this fall, don’t be surprised. For the third year in a row, D.J. Blankenship of Konnowac Pass will be dying his white beard pink throughout the month of October to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “Three years... Continue Reading →
Mark and Cheryl Barrett each come from a long line of orchard families, but that doesn’t mean they wanted to do things the way they’ve always been done. Looking to chart their own course, the Yakima, Wash., couple combined everything they had learned from the previous three generations of farmers and started their own business,... Continue Reading →
When you operate a fruit company in the apple capital of the world, you’re always trying to find an edge. That’s why Yakima Valley grower-shippers like Apple King are constantly searching for ways to stand out in an increasingly competitive industry. The family-owned, vertically integrated company in Yakima, Wash. — which traces its roots back... Continue Reading →
My heart sank a little last week when the governor officially canceled school for the rest of the year due to the coronavirus outbreak. Not just for my kids, who won’t get to see their friends and teachers for another five months. Or for my wife, a preschool teacher who won’t be able to host... Continue Reading →
Things have gotten real in a hurry. In a matter of days, we went from normal, everyday life activities to a societal shutdown of epic proportions. COVID-19, aka “the coronavirus,” has paralyzed our very existence, closing schools and universities, canceling sports at all levels, slowing airline travel to a crawl, shuttering bars and restaurants, wiping... Continue Reading →
I’m one of those guys people love to hate. Not because I’m a jerk or a particularly disagreeable fellow. It has more to do with a certain after-hours activity that I’ve been involved in for the past dozen-or-so years. You may have yelled my name and not even known whom you were barking at. You... Continue Reading →
Eisenhower came from behind to defeat rival Davis 41-35 on Nov. 8 at Zaepfel Stadium, putting a cap on the season for both teams. The Cadets trailed 21-12 at halftime, but quarterback Jaiden Corbray led a comeback that gave Ike its fourth win of the season. Eisenhower finished at 4-6 overall (2-4 in the CBBN),... Continue Reading →
Gilbert Cellars has built up enough name recognition over the past 15 years that the brand would have no problem developing a following beyond the West Coast.But whenever the owners of the Central Washington winery consider ramping up production, they always prioritize their Yakima Valley roots. “We’ve had opportunities to open other tasting rooms outside... Continue Reading →
A lot has changed since Buck Chan first started working at Keoki’s Oriental Restaurant nearly four decades ago. The city, its residents and their taste in food are all very different now than when Chan and his family emigrated to Yakima from China in 1980. One thing that has stayed the same, however, is Chan’s... Continue Reading →
I’ve always been a huge fan of Asian cuisine. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indian — it doesn’t matter. If I had to rank my favorite ethnic foods, I would have to go with Vietnamese, Thai and Korean — in that order — followed closely by authentic Mexican (mmmm, tacos!). There’s just something so... Continue Reading →
