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Good morning, Chelan County! In today’s edition: Highway 2 reopens early, Girl Winter Film Tour, floating cacao ceremony and sound bath, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Community input shapes funding path: Port of Chelan County commissioners approved the Malaga TIA in December and unanimously moved to pursue a revenue-sharing agreement with local taxing districts, aiming to review a draft January 13 — get all the details.
Crews restore critical route: Highway 2 between Skykomish and Stevens Pass reopened ahead of schedule after heavy rain and snowfall damage. A pilot car will guide traffic over a five-mile stretch — see what drivers should know.
Local businesses rally together: After flood damage and a Highway 2 closure, Squirrel Tree owners are letting Alps Candy Store use Leavenworth Café Roasters, training staff while the shop awaits repairs and access — learn what happens next.
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
Resident-guided giving in action: The Community Foundation of North Central Washington awarded $69,000 in 2025 to local nonprofits through the Chelan Valley Legacy Fund. Launched in 2024, the fund has distributed $115,158 over two years, with local advisory boards of residents setting priorities, reviewing applications, and conducting site visits. See how grants are awarded.
Science + river vibes: When midweek blahs hit, wander through hands-on exhibits at Rocky Reach Discovery Center. Steer a steamship, crank a turbine, and watch salmon glide past wide viewing windows as you soak up Columbia River stories and unexpectedly great views.
Serious burrito craving: Keep it simple with Taqueria Luna in Wenatchee, a low-key spot rolling hefty burritos, plus tacos and tortas with lengua, tripa, and asada. Online ordering means less waiting and more eating, a tidy fit for weeknights.
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 weekend
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🚶 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.
🎬 Girl Winter Film Tour @ Wenatchee River Institute | Friday (1/9) at 5:30 PM – Shake off the post-holiday slump and catch the Girl Winter Film Tour with SheJumps at Wenatchee River Institute. It is an all-are-welcome screening celebrating mountain grit, big smiles, and snow dreams, with community vibes. Bring your fleece, your friends, and your apres stories.
🛷 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.
🔨 Date Night – Cutting Board @ North Central Washington Woodshop | Saturday (1/10) at 4:00 PM – Date night at NCW Woodshop means swapping small talk for sawdust, and leaving with a handmade cutting board you will actually use. No experience needed, just a willingness to try, and a healthy respect for sandpaper. Quality time, measured in glue-ups.
🧘 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.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Chelan County report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 36°F – Low: 28°F – Precip: 10%
Sunny. High near 36, with temperatures falling to around 33 in the afternoon. Southwest wind around 7 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Later: Partly cloudy. Low around 28, with temperatures rising to around 30 overnight. Southwest wind around 6 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 38°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 5%
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Southwest wind around 3 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind around 2 mph.
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