Russ Hemphill

Yet more work

More construction projects around Douglas County:

Wilf Woods: Elementary my dear Rock Island, Lewis and Clark

The past week has been truly elementary. Kathy and I took in an opera performance at Rock Island Elementary School Tuesday, a special abbreviated “Barber of Seville.”

Okanogan County near worst in drug and alcohol-related deaths

Five years ago, Okanogan County had the highest drug- and alcohol-related death rate in the state, and was fifth highest for alcohol-related traffic fatalities, according to the state Department of Social and Health Services. The county dropped to second-highest for drug- or alcohol-related deaths — now behind Ferry County — and seventh highest for alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the state’s 2012 report.

Worm: Share your graduation gown

Recycle those gowns: If you graduated from Wenatchee Valley College and you’re not clinging to your cap and gown as proof, the college would like them back. The college Foundation is asking graduates to donate their caps and gowns for students who can’t afford to buy them. The foundation bought some that are loaned to students, but the need is growing. A new cap and gown costs $40.

Wilf Woods: Not so sweet on sugar

Is Sugar the Next Tobacco? That’s the title of an article in Pacific Standard magazine, describing the career of Robert Lustig of the University of California, San Francisco, an endocrinologist making the case against sugar use. Seventy-five percent of food sold in this country has added sugar, the article notes. Lustig’s aim is to get the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to remove sugar from its list of ‘safe’ foods.

Rick Steigmeyer: Checking wine lists at Winter Wine Gala

There was a lot of talk at the Winter Wine Gala about which wine was best. And a lot to choose from with 16 wineries present. Each winery was pouring two or three different wines. The Wenatchee Valley Museum — this was their 10th year of hosting the Jan. 26 event, which benefits the museum — even handed out a list of all the wineries and wines at the door so the 200 or so attendees could take notes on their favorites.

Common Ground: Hanging out at Sunnyslope Elementary

I had the pleasure of spending an hour with two fourth-grade classes at Sunnyslope Elementary School on Thursday and, after being grilled with thoughtful and probing questions by the students, came away impressed. These kids are going places. This was part of an enrichment program that brings speakers from the community into the classroom to help students make deeper connections with the working world and, hopefully, stimulate in some small way their interest in subjects they’ve not been exposed to.

Metro Editor

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