It's all geek at Wenatchee pop culture convention
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 5 months AGO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | April 3, 2017 3:00 AM
WENATCHEE — Costumes. Gaming tournaments. Time machines. It’s all coming to the Wenatchee next Saturday at the first annual WEN-CON, held at the Town Toyota Center.
For the geek-impaired, a “con” is a pop culture convention for lovers of science fiction and fantasy, comics, role-playing games and other nerdy esoterica. Seattle has hosted one for the last 14 years, the Emerald City ComiCon. WEN-CON may not be on the same scale as ECCC, but it will still feature artists, authors, actors and other well-known figures, according to a press release from convention organizers.
Guest stars include:
Steve Blum: One of the best-known voice actors in the world, Blum is Spike Spiegel from “Cowboy Bebop,” Wolverine, from the “X-Men” TV series, and is TOM, the robotic host of Cartoon Network’s “Toonami” on Adult Swim, among many, many other famous roles. In 2012, he was inducted into the Guinness Book of World records as the most prolific voice actor in video games.
Johnny Yong Bosch: Best known for his roles in the “Power Rangers” franchise, Bosch also has acted in martial arts TV programs and feature films, as well as numerous accomplishments as a voice actor. He was a lead actor in “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie,” and has played the second Black Power Ranger, the first Green Turbo Ranger and the Green Zeo Ranger.
Rick Farmiloe: As a Disney and Dreamworks animator, Farmiloe brought to life characters in numerous iconic movies, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin.” Outside Disney his feature film credits include “The Simpsons Movie,” The Prince of Egypt” and “The Iron Giant.”
John Alexander: A prolific actor, Alexander appeared in “Men in Black,” Men in Black II,” “Hellboy II” and has played numerous creatures in films that include “Gorillas in the Mist,” “Mighty Joe Young,” and was the lifelike Cowardly Lion in the cult classic “Return to Oz.”
WEN-CON isn’t all about the personalities, though. Gamers can get down to brass tacks with “Magic the Gathering,” “Star Wars X-Wing,” “Smash Brothers” and “Mortal Combat” tournaments, among others. Elite Gaming Gear, which is hosting the video game tournaments, will also host a virtual reality shooting range.
For those whose tendencies aren’t quite so... competitive, there will be panel discussions with the various guest artists, a trivia contest in the Cosmic Lounge, and talks from cosplay experts.
“Cosplay” is short for “costume play,” and is a way for attendees to sink themselves a little farther into the things they enjoy by dressing up as a character from a movie, comic book or game. The convention will feature a cosplay contest for hundreds of dollars’ worth of cash and prizes, according to organizers.
But what about the time machine? Well, it won’t really catapult you back into history, but it is a movie-accurate replica of the iconic DeLorean from the “Back to the Future” movie series. There’s even a hoverboard for fans to stand on while they have their photo taken next to the car.
Where there’s a convention, there are vendors, and WEN-CON has a line-up of them offering gaming supplies, books, artworks, comics, cosplay materials and much more. In addition, Chelan-Douglas County Community Action Council will be collecting food donations for local food pantries.
For schedules, tickets and other information, check out the convention’s website at www.wen-con.com.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy National Night Out scales down
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Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.
Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.