Panorama

Sharing the slopes

A new community partnership has brought the thrill and excitement of winter sports to underserved youths in Walla Walla. Over the last several weeks, close to 20 students have traveled to Ski Bluewood to experience skiing and snowboarding, almost all for the first time. The program came together through the efforts of SOS Outreach, Ski Bluewood and local youth agencies. SOS Outreach is a nonprofit serving underserved youths and teens through outdoor and adventure programs. SOS Outreach is a national group that has worked in the state for years, but with Ski Bluewood for the first time this year.

Paths well-traveled

TOLLGATE — “It was intense. We didn’t even have a trail. We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into,” Lisa Matiaco said, remembering that first hike for the Walla Walla Hiking club. The she added, “It was awesome.” Club leader Joe Jacobs admits the inaugural hike was a challenge. “Juniper Dunes was kind of tough. It was a little overly ambitious where we wanted to go because I wanted to get back to where the old growth junipers were. And when you are hiking in sand dunes, it looks like there is no elevation, but you are going up the dunes and down the dunes,” Jacobs said.

History of Wa-Hi's growing pains

Building and upgrading a high school for local students have been mired in periods of controversy from when their foundations were laid the year of statehood. “Walla Walla High School was begun in 1889 over the protests of numerous citizens,” according to a history published by Wa-Hi students in the mid-1970s. The issue was settled when a local judge decided the community could establish a Department of Secondary Education. Twelve teens met three times a day at a local grade school to study three subjects.

The madness of March

While NCAA basketball moves towad the Final Four, local teams — and their fans — have wrapped up their own tournament life.

A championship tournament is like a mythical beast. It shimmers, shakes and flies. It rumbles with hundreds of stomping feet and clapping hands. Its voice roars.

An education for the long haul

In a 20-minute video available online, commercial truck-driving instructor Steve Harvey demonstrates the pretrip inspection that is part of the requirement to getting a commercial driver’s license in Washington state. For each of those 20 minutes, Harvey takes the viewer through the meticulous work required of commercial truck drivers, from checking lights, tires, air pressure, brakes, clutch, valves, hoses and more than 100 other details required to pass. And that’s all before students test behind the wheel.

It's our relationships that matter the most

Through life’s experience, we have the opportunity to learn valuable lessons and truths. If we will listen, can learn these truths from those to whom we’re closest who mean the most to us.

'Mother Nature' can't hold a candle to God

Q: The term “Mother Nature” is used a lot. We hear about Mother Nature’s fury, Mother Nature’s wrath, or Mother Nature “throwing everything at us.” Isn’t God in control of the weather? Where did Mother Nature come from and why the feminine angle? Curious minds want to know! — R., Dix Hills, NY, via my personal e-mail. (Hey, the guy is president of my synagogue!)

Between a rock and a hard place? Fear not

Hard places. Everyone travels through hard places in life. I want to help folks understand why hard places still exist in a faith-filled Christian’s life. The wrong perspective makes a hard place a whole lot harder.

Raptors on the Roll

Birds of prey take to the air to clear the skies of invasive species.

There are Reservoir Dogs and then there are landfill falcons. One is the title of a Quentin Tarantino film, while the other is being looked at as a way to help control unwanted residents at the city of Walla Walla’s Sudbury Landfill.

Even dealing with dementia, there are still reasons to smile

Alzheimer’s disease is the pits. Yet, even in the midst of all the pain, frustration and anger, there is sometimes the funny. Oh sure, the humor isn’t the hilarious, laugh-out-loud kind, but it certainly can make you smile or relieve the mundane that is so much of a caregiver’s world. It’s OK to find the funny in your situation.