Ponti began working for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin in 1999 as the Special Publications Writer. Her work can be found in Walla Walla Valley Lifestyles, the Walla Walla Valley Weekly, Walla Walla Valley Business Monthly, Vistor’s Guide and other publications. In the early 1990s she worked for the Record Journal in Ferndale, Wash. providing the Custer news column and feature articles.
Born and raised in Walla Walla, she grew up on a family farm that still produces Walla Walla Sweet Onions. A graduate of Walla Walla High School, she attended Whitman College and graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies--Women Studies and Psychology. After college, she attended the seminary at the CDM Spiritual Teaching Center in Seattle and was ordained a Christian minister in 1980.
Her favorite books include Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, the King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany, Earth Energy by Mary Ellen Flora and the alphabet mystery series by Sue Grafton. “I sometimes wish the alphabet was longer,” Ponti said.
Favorite movies include Paint Your Wagon, Harold and Maude, Real Genius, Titanic (seen probably hundreds of times) and King Arthur, 2004.
She loves music, especially The Moody Blues, The Call, The Bards and Sugarland.
Interests include spending time with family, learning about antiques, collectibles and historic homes, meditation.
Recent Stories
'Deli Debi' dishes out great food, service
The manager of Harvest Foods’ deli preaches respect and a strong work ethic.
Salads, picnic food or hot soup in the cold winter — certain foods just make you happy. The deli at Walla Walla’s Harvest Foods can supply you with mood-lightening fare for all occasions.
For pets, Penrod Kennels is a day at the park
MILTON-FREEWATER — Penrod Kennels is a place where pets can go to be themselves.
Bus driver pulls career to the curb
Betty Harris hasn’t lost her drive, but she might be a little tired. After 27 years of driving a bus for Valley Transit, she waved goodbye on April 17.
The fix is in at Milton-Freewater shoe store
A comfortable pair of shoes, like an old friend, is something you hold near and dear. So what do you do when a part of your shoe wears out or breaks?
It takes a town to raise a tree
Give some thought to the future: plant a tree! The Noon Rotary Club of Walla Walla has taken that advice to heart, planting thousands of trees over the years.
Family navigates changes at drive-in
With their time-honored appearance and familiar amenities, drive-in movie theaters hearken back to years gone by. But they need periodic maintenance to preserve that traditional character, and often require modern upgrades to keep up with the times.
Zeal for learning guides Roy Anderson
He's gone from the Air Force to engineering, art, teaching, music and sports.
Roy Anderson is a modern-day Renaissance man.
Music and life in balance
Walla Walla Symphony musicians juggle their lives so the show can go on.
A great symphony performance is a seemingly miraculous balance of sound and rhythm — all of which must come together with spot-on timing among dozens of musicians.
New Red Cross boss in town
Melissa Buckley has learned a few things since graduating from Walla Walla High School in 1995.
Lightening the load
The Cancer Resource Center provides a lifeline for people coping with the disease.
First comes the dread one feels when told he or she has cancer.
