MOSES LAKE — A night of awards and games in Othello, and afternoon of music and suds in Moses Lake, a Civil War story in Quincy - there’s a lot going on around these parts the next month or so.

The Othello Chamber of Commerce will host its annual banquet beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 616 E. Juniper St. “Casino Night” is the theme for 2023, and the evening includes silent and live auctions and games.

The Chamber uses the occasion to introduce its leadership, of course, but the bigger focus is on recognizing people in the community for their contributions. Chamber officers announce their selections in advance for citizen of the year, business of the year, civil servant of the year and teacher of the year, but awards are presented at the Chamber dinner.

Tickets can be purchased at Othello City Hall, the Remaxx office in Othello and the Othello Columbia Bank branch. More information is available on the Chamber’s social media.

Columbia Basin poets have a venue to present their works each month at the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum. The group has started a monthly Poetry Night, scheduled for 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday, March 1 for this month. Poets get together in the Pioneer Church at the museum, 415 F St. SW.

Admission is free.

The Quincy Valley museum will sponsor an evening of Civil War history, music and food beginning at 6 p.m. March 11 at the Heritage Barn. Winthrop historian Hank Cramer III will tell the story of his great-grandfather, Sgt. Wilson Cramer, Civil War veteran.

Civil War-era food will be served in the Heritage Barn at 6 p.m., followed by Cramer’s performance at the Pioneer Church at 7 p.m. Hank Cramer is a musician, so Wilson Cramer’s story will be told in part through the music the soldiers would’ve played and sung. Cramer will be accompanied by MIchelle Cameron on the cello.

More information on tickets is available at [email protected].

The Downtown Moses Lake Association will sponsor a little music, the chance to sample some regional brews - and to get out and about after a long winter - at its annual Brews & Tunes, noon to 5 p.m. March 18.

Downtown Moses Lake businesses will host local musicians for live music performances, and regional breweries bring the beer. Participants wander through downtown to sample the tunes and the brews.

The lineup of musicians and breweries was not available at press time. Tickets can be purchased on the DMLA website, www.Downtownmoseslake.com.

The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its annual Business Expo March 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the commercial and 4H buildings at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr. NE.

It being deep into the Big Dance - also known as the NCAA basketball tournament - by then, “March Madness” is the theme for 2023. Businesses and organizations will have booths with information about their services and products.

Admission is free.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached at [email protected].