It is remarkable how our Community Foundation of North Central Washington continues to find innovative ways to foster philanthropy and make positive things happen in our region.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Two entomologists who made enormous contributions to the tree fruit industry and literally helped pioneer integrated pest management (IPM) in our region — Stan Hoyt and Everett Burts — passed away last November within a few weeks of each other.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
This is a winter of discontent for pear growers in North Central Washington, and folks in the industry are deeply concerned about the financial survival of these small family growers. The pear industry is one of the last bastions of family farms in agriculture, with small-acreage orchards do…
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Is Catholic Charities capable of delivering effective mental health crisis services to North Central Washington?
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
‘Tis the season for charitable giving in our region and every year at this time we rediscover the extraordinary generosity of our neighbors.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Elvis Garcia has a special talent for inspiring students to elevate their musical and performance skills as a volunteer coach for the Wenatchee High School band program, says band director Jim Kovach.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Every time I connect with the work of Upper Valley MEND (Meeting Each Need with Dignity), I walk away inspired by the work they are doing to foster a sense of belonging and community for those who are living on the margins of the upper valley.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
When it comes to finding ways to end violence and hatred in our communities, our country and our world, practicing kindness and reducing the hatred that exists in each of our hearts would be a wise place to begin.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
LEAVENWORTH — Peshastin Dryden-Alpine Lakes Parent-Teacher Organization hosted a screening of the film “Resilience” at Cascade High School Tuesday night, which addressed the toxic stress that impacts youngsters and the crippling effect it can have on their well-being. It’s a film that everyo…
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
As a community, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to respond to the suicide of local crisis counselor Eric Skansgaard by creating a more effective regional mental health system and providing timely emotional support for people doing this difficult work.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
The Wenatchee High School Interact Club has another meaningful community project in the works, and we can help them reach their goal by attending a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Riverside Playhouse.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Governor’s Arts and Heritage Awards and watch our valley’s Matt Cadman accept the honor for arts advocacy.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
The community-building effort of Kiwanis Methow Park in South Wenatchee is getting wonderful coverage. The Trust for Public Land’s Land and People magazine featured the park and some of its key community advocates after they visited a similar project in South Los Angeles and networked with i…
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
When the Blue Zones Project group visited our valley last week, they shared some fascinating insights about the health and well-being of our valley. The information came from the surveys taken by the Gallup organization in Chelan and Douglas counties.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Chelan County PUD had a party last week to celebrate the closing of its Museum of the Columbia at Rocky Reach Dam and the beginning of a two-year construction project that will result in a more interactive and updated museum at the dam’s visitor center.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
One of the great challenges and opportunities facing our communities is how we can constructively address our mental health challenges. We are fortunate that Chelan and Douglas counties have a chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) that is providing training and support gr…
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Malia Renner-Singer, the 2020 Regional Teacher of the Year for the North Central Education Service District, has some powerful insights about the impact of teachers in our communities.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Our Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center will soon be embarking on a public engagement effort to understand what issues the community is concerned about, the perceived strengths of the museum and ideas about how it can make meaningful contributions going forward.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
About 15 years ago, we hired an employee with developmental disabilities at The World. Brian was hired because I felt that he could make a contribution to the company and because I thought it would be a productive way to help our staff gain a greater understanding and appreciation of folks w…
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Serendipity sometimes plays a magical role in life — a fact that that Lena Paige knows as well as anyone. The North Central Washington native once spent seven years singing in Nashville before giving up on her dream of recording the country and western songs she and her mother have spent the…
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Shared prosperity, the commitment to the health and well-being of everyone, is a core principle of the visionary leaders who built North Central Washington. They took great risks in building, for example, our local public utility districts — organizations devoted to serving local communities.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
I am impressed by efforts being made by the Cashmere School District to ensure a quality education for all of their students. The district has a keen understanding of and appreciation for the toxic stress that impacts many students and is trying to foster resilience by creating programs to s…
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
One of the truly exceptional nonprofits in our region is Court Appointed Child Advocates (CASA) of Chelan and Douglas counties, a nonprofit that is celebrating 25 years of service to some of our most vulnerable children this month.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
There is something moving in carrying on the community- building work of one’s parents after they pass away.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
This is the first of a series of columns focused on fostering civil discourse and dialogue, which is an action item of the Our Valley Our Future effort.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
One of the greatest challenges for a nonprofit is to deliver its mission while at the same time having the financial discipline to be sustainable for the long term. This is particularly challenging balance for nonprofit arts organizations.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
One of the talented emerging community leaders in the Wenatchee Valley is Teresa Bendito-Zepeda, a co-founder of the Parque Padrinos. The group of more than 100 neighbors in South Wenatchee is dedicated to making sure that the redeveloped Kiwanis Methow Park is fully programmed and cared for.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
I cannot think of a better example of personal resilience than D’Andre Vasquez, who graduated this year from Cascade High School. He is a remarkable human being with great faith, a devotion to family and community and someone who is making the world a better place.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Charities should exist only as long as they serve a legitimate public purpose and do so with accountability, integrity and openness.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
As a writer, I have the privilege of meeting many ordinary folks doing wonderful things in the valley and enjoy sharing a bit of their stories with the community. I am inspired by people who have a passion for helping others and particularly those who have overcome challenges.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
