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Good morning, Chelan County! In today’s edition: Fire chief Brian Brett’s retirement, a floating cacao ceremony and sound bath, a snowshoe stroll, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Contesting state decisions at issue: The Washington State Department of Commerce is considering rulemaking to let local governments challenge GMA determinations, possibly using a brief adjudicative process that could affect planning in North Central Washington — get all the details.
Leadership transition with fiscal focus: Wenatchee Valley Fire Chief Brian Brett announced his retirement after more than 30 years. A nationwide search is underway, with a new chief to be named by June 1 — learn more about the search.
Utility priorities amid fiscal strain: With a shortened calendar and a projected $4.3 billion shortfall, Washington’s 2026 session nears as Chelan County PUD prepares for debates on wildfire liability, energy affordability, and rising electricity demand — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
From lens to community hub: HoneyHour Market is open at The Side Street Cashmere in Cashmere. It blends a grocery, cafe, and the Velvet Den wine lounge. The market runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. The Velvet Den is open 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Explore its community-first approach.
Orchard-fresh pours: Leaning local? Rootwood Cider Co. pours crisp, orchard-made ciders in Manson, crafted by the Koenig family from their own apples. It’s an easy nibble-and-sip spot, ideal for a low-key catch-up or a quiet, “I earned this” moment.
Refresh your nest: Whether you’re hunting a statement piece or need a style spark, Spruce and Willow Home is a multi-vendor trove of repurposed, vintage, and new finds, from mid-century lines to cozy farmhouse touches, plus unexpected accents that make rooms feel finished.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🌲 Benevolent Night @ München Haus | Tuesday (1/6) at 4:00 PM – Skip cooking and hit München Haus, where 25% of your brat, beer, and pretzel habit funds the Wenatchee River Institute. Think trails, gardens, and river education for all ages, courtesy of your mustard-stained generosity. Easy philanthropy, tasty rewards.
🏺 Intro to Wheel Throwing @ Inspirations Ceramic & Art Cafe | Tuesday (1/6) at 5:00 PM – Trade doomscrolling for clay and a spinning wheel. Learn the basics, throw a piece, and come back to glaze it, no experience required. Seats vanish faster than a decent parking spot on Saturday, so grab your ticket online now and pretend it was your idea.
🚶 Snowshoe Stroll @ Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery | Friday (1/9) at 1:00 PM – Trade the treadmill for a one-mile snowshoe stroll along Icicle Creek with Wenatchee River Institute guides, starting at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. They supply snowshoes, poles, and gaiters, you bring layers, curiosity, and quips about who left which tracks. Small group, beginner friendly, registration required.
This weekend
🛷 Camp Sledding Day @ Camp Zanika Lache | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Camp Zanika is serving a throwback sledding day with fresh mountain air, classic camp vibes, and enough hot cocoa to thaw your judgment. Bring the kids, a trusty sled, and extra layers. Feeling bold, or avoiding chores, crash in a heated cabin overnight, RSVP required.
🔔 Floating Cacao Ceremony & Sound Bath @ Valkyrie Fitness Studio | Saturday (1/10) at 1:00 PM – Float in an aerial hammock, sip cacao, and decide what you’re done carrying. Roxy and Megan host their final cacao ceremony at Valkyrie Fitness, with guided meditation, shamanic sound, and movement, adult recess for your nervous system, to let go, say thanks, and move on.
🧘 Self Care Sundays – Yoga + Sauna/Cold Plunge @ Elevate Medical Aesthetics + IV Bar | Sunday (1/11) at 9:00 AM – Resetting your Sunday at Elevate with yoga, a steamy sauna, and a bracing cold plunge. Stretch, sweat, shiver, then feel obnoxiously virtuous grabbing coffee after. Consider it training for summer swims in Lake Chelan, minus the boat, plus actual relaxation.
🎨 Empty Bowls Painting Event @ Pybus Public Market | Sunday (1/11) at 1:00 PM – Get crafty for a cause with Empty Bowls, a $15 paint-your-own bowl that fights hunger across Chelan and Douglas counties. You decorate, they glaze and fire, then we gather at Wenatchee High for soup using your masterpiece. Finally, a craft project you can eat from.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Chelan County report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 38°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 60%
Rain likely before 4pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain and snow before 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
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Tomorrow – High: 40°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 32%
A chance of rain after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
This house is wild
Set on a hillside with a full valley panorama, this 3-bedroom home blends play and polish. The game room delivers a high ceiling, concrete floors, sliders to the yard and deck, and a full bath. The main level includes a large primary bedroom and laundry. Upstairs, two roomy bedrooms share a bath. Walnut flooring and granite kitchen counters complete the clean, move in ready feel.
The game room reads as the MVP, ready for tournaments, workouts, or movie nights. Sunlight pours through the sliders. The hillside vantage keeps the view front and center, and the practical layout makes daily routines easy.
Take a peek inside →
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