SENIOR EVENTS: April 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 1 week 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 1, 2026 7:50 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s spring in the Basin at last. Swing a golf club to support St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, plant some marigolds with the grandchildren, learn to line dance at the Moses lake Senior Center or check out any of the other events in store for this month.
April 2
Nonprofit Meetup
All Moses Lake non-profits and service organizations are welcome. Share what your organization is all about, what your current needs are and network with other local nonprofits. One lucky nonprofit will win $100 donation from Care Moses Lake. Bring your own lunch. 12 p.m. at the Downtown Moses Lake Association office, 205 S. Division St. Info: 509-770-1002.
Youth of the Year Trivia Night
Fundraiser to support Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin Youth of the Year Tristan Navarro as he represents our community at the state level. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., trivia begins at 7 p.m. at Moses Lake Taproom, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
April 3
Summer Wood Yard Sale
Spend a morning of browsing, finding treasures, and supporting something meaningful. From handmade items to unique finds, every table has a story behind it. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, 830 NW Sunburst Court, Moses Lake. Info: 509-764-1900.
H.E. Gritman Senior Center Bake Sale
Delicious home-baked items just in time for Easter. Arrive early for the best selection. All proceeds support the Senior Center lunch program and other activities. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or until sold out at 118 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 509-659-1921.
April 4
Spring Fling
Say goodbye to winter and hello to fresh finds. Local artisans, handcrafted gifts, fresh baked goods and farm-fresh produce. Presented by the Moses Lake Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Grant County Fairgrounds Commercial Building, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-237-2100.
April 6
Mobile Market
Free drive-thru for fresh and nonperishable items. No appointment or paperwork needed – just come by if you need a hand. Limited to 250 families. Provided by Second Harvest Tri-Cities. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Othello High School, 340 S Seventh Ave. Info: 2-harvest.org.
April 7
Marigold Seed Planting Day
Plant marigold seed starts, take them home, care for them and watch them grow, then transplant them outside when it's warm enough. Great hands-on learning opportunity for little hands. 10 a.m. at Royal City Public Library, 109 Camelia St. NE. Info: 509-346-9281.
Beginner Line Dance Lessons
Easy line dance class designed especially for seniors. Learners will move at a comfortable pace and break down each step so everyone feels confident. Line dancing is a great way to stay active, improve balance, and enjoy music with friends. 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Moses Lake Senior Center, 608 E. third Aven. Info: 509-765-7809.
April 9
Singo
Singo is a variation on the traditional game of Bingo. Instead of listening for a number, players are listening to their favorite music. Each player receives a free Singo card printed with the titles of popular songs. While Singo randomly plays song clips, players can sing along and mark matching song titles on their cards. The first player to mark five songs in a row and to shout "Singo" wins the round. Admission is free and prizes will be awarded. 6 p.m. at the Moses Lake Taproom, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
April 11
Columbia Basin Chapter Big Game Banquet
Dinner and auction to support Washington Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Doors open 4:30 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Tickets and info: bit.ly/CBElkAuction26.
Columbia Basin K-9 Fundraiser Banquet
Dinner, raffles and a good time supporting the hardworking K-9 patrol teams in Columbia Basin law enforcement. 5 p.m. at 814 North Stratford Road, Moses Lake. Info: [email protected].
Party for the Paws Dinner Auction
Proceeds support Adams County Pet Rescue. 5 p.m. at 1961 W. Bench Road, Othello. Info: 509-488-5514.
April 16
Mobile Market
Free drive-thru for fresh and nonperishable items. No appointment or paperwork needed – just come by if you need a hand. Limited to 250 families. Provided by Second Harvest Tri-Cities. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Iglesia Metodista Libre "El Jardin" de Quincy, 815 Second Ave. SW. Info: 2-harvest.org.
Retirement Fundamentals: Estate Planning, Wills and Trust Workshop
Estate planning is about more than just documents – it's about making decisions that will impact your loved ones for years to come. This workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to make informed choices. No cost. To reserve a spot, visit qpl2.retirement-fundamentals.net. 3 p.m. at Quincy Public Library, 208 Central S. Info: 509-787-2359.
Bachelors of Broadway
A trio of dashing men, soaring melodies from stage and screen and contemporary three-part vocal harmony. Audiences will hear lush symphonic arrangements of songs from modern and classic musicals. Sponsored by Central Basin Community Concert Association. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., concert starts at 7 p.m. at the Wallenstien Theater, 6989 College Parkway NE, Moses Lake. Tickets and info: communityconcertsml.com.
April 17
Safe Kids, Strong Communities
Free family-friendly event in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Pizza, face painting, child safety education and hands-on activities for children of all ages and abilities, as well as prize giveaways. All children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. 3-7 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-764-8402.
April 17-19
Youth Dynamics 30th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate 30 years of Christian outreach with three days of fun and fellowship. Alumni night, tours of the building, desserts and comedy by Bob Smiley. 106 E. Third Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-855-4095.
April 18
Spring Bingo
Proceeds support Grange activities. Bingo cards $1. Snacks and baked goods available for purchase. 3 p.m. at Moses Lake Grange No. 1151, 14724 Road 3 SE. Info: 509-850-0242.
Music and Wine Straight from the Vine
Live music by Moses Lake saxophonist Doug Coutts. Wine and craft beer available, as well as local meats, cheese and Cornfusion Gourmet Popcorn. 7-9 p.m. at Camas Cove Cellars, 911 Camas Place, Moses Lake. Info: camascovecellars.com or 509-750-4193.
Craft Collective: Custom Doormats
Unleash your inner crafter to relax, connect with others, and get creative making custom doormats. Craft materials available while supplies last. 6-7:30 p.m. at Othello Public Library, 125 E. Hemlock St. Info: 509-488-9683.
April 23
Big Bend Bingo Night
Fundraiser for Big Bend Community College Foundation. Sheriff Joey Kriete will call numbers, A-Crew BBQ will serve tacos, and Moses Lake Taproom will have beer and wine available. Prizes and silent auction. Bingo cards available with a suggested donation. 5 p.m. at Moses Lake Taproom, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
April 24
Hiram B. Freedom and his Honky-Tonk Holy Ghost Revival
Live outlaw country music by the King of the Hillbilly Poets. 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Michael’s Market & Bistro, 221 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-4177.
Voces de Esperanza Gala – Under the Stars
Enjoy an elegant evening featuring traditional Mexican music, authentic Mexican cuisine, an open bar, and more. Proceeds support Unidos Nueva Alianza Foundation. Tickets $100 at unaz-gala.raiselysite.com. 6-9 p.m. at Quincy Business and Event Center, 115 F St. SW. Info: 509-289-7637.
April 25
Fr. Kerr Honorary Golf Tournament
Proceeds support St. Rose of Lima Catholic School. Lunch and cart included. Checkin begins at 8:30 a.m. at Moses Pointe Golf Course, 4524 Westshore Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: www.saintroseschool.org.
Touch a Truck
Fire trucks, police cars, heavy equipment and more for children to climb on and explore, plus face painting and raffle prizes. Hosted by MomCo. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Moses Lake Presbyterian Church, 1142 W. Ivy Ave. Info: themom.co.
Kids & Kites Festival
Bring the grandchildren and fly kites at a fun, family-friendly event. 100 free kites for the first 100 children 10 and younger. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Lauzier Park, Quincy. Info: 509-393-6868.
April 30
‘The Imitation Game’
Screening of the 2014 biographical film starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the cryptanalyst who broke the Enigma code in World War II. 2 p.m. at the Ephrata Senior Center, 124 C St. NW. Info: www.ephrataseniorcenter.org.
The Royal City library will show children how to grow their own marigolds April 7. The event would be a great time with grandchildren.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy National Night Out scales down
QUINCY — Quincy’s National Night Out was more compact this year, which worked out well, said QPD Sgt. Joe Westby, who’s in charge of event planning for the Quincy Police Department. “National Night Out is a big event, and the fact that we’re able to shrink it up is like a breath of fresh air,” Westby said. “If you're always doing the same thing, it's kind of nice to switch things up and see how it works.” National Night Out took place Thursday on the block of C Street next to the police station, a shift from previous years when it was held at Lauzier Park. The smaller space meant fewer emergency vehicles for children to explore, but it also meant less walking for attendees. Grant County Fire District 5 brought a fire truck, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office had a patrol boat. Renew, the Grant County behavioral health agency, had a booth and so did Quincy Partnership for Youth. Veterans Operation Creation sang the national anthem, and the Quincy Animal Shelter brought kittens that piled over each other making friends with passersby. As before, the QPD served grilled hot dogs.
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.