BASIN EVENTS: Feb. 6-14, 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 1 week AGO
Attendees enjoy a glass of wine at the Downtown Moses Lake Association’s Sip & Stroll. The Downtown Moses Lake Association will host its first-ever Ladies Night Out Feb. 12.
FILE PHOTO
Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo star in “Wicked: For Good,” showing free at the Quincy Public Library Friday.
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. | February 6, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — Valentine’s Day is coming up, and whether you celebrate with a sweetie, hang with some friends or just sail solo, there’s something for everybody happening this week.
Feb. 6
Free Family Movie
“Wicked for Good”: The epic finale to the untold story of Oz begins. Elphaba, long misunderstood as the Wicked Witch of the West, fights for truth from the shadows. Glinda, beloved symbol of goodness, shines in Emerald City. But when the people of Oz rise up, these two powerful women must reunite, face the truth about each other and change the fate of Oz for good. Rated PG. Snacks are welcome, just clean up afterward. 1 p.m. at Quincy Public Library, 206 Central Ave. S. Info: 509-787-2359.
Tacos for Tuition
Help students get a Catholic education by supporting the Fr. Kerr Scholarship Fund. Dinner by Maggie’s Kitchen, plus live entertainment, games and activities. Proceeds enable students with financial need to attend St. Rose of Lima Catholic School. St. Rose is open to students of all faiths and does not turn students away based on ability to pay. Admission and dinner by donation. 6-9 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, 520 Nat Washington Way, Ephrata. Info: 509-754-4901 or saintroseschool.org.
First Friday Jam
Local musicians of all skill levels are invited to come, participate and learn new skills in this fun group. Anyone with an instrument can come and play; anyone with ears can come and listen. 7-9 p.m. at George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency Blvd.Info: www.georgecommunityhall.com.
Feb. 7
Community Appreciation Breakfast
The Quincy-George community is invited to enjoy pancakes and meet their neighbors. No charge. 8-11 a.m. at George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency Blvd. Info: 509-785-3041.
Feb. 10
Care-A-Van Mobile Health Services
The Washington Department of Health Care-A-Van mobile health team will bringing essential health services directly to our community. This fully operational mobile clinic is dedicated to expanding access to health care and social services – especially for underserved communities. Free services include Naloxone (Narcan) distribution; blood pressure screening and management education; A1C and blood glucose screening; pre-diabetes prevention and diabetes management guidance; and more. No identification or citizenship documentation required. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Quincy Public Library, 208 Central Ave. S. Info: 509-787-2359.
Feb. 12
WellPoint Washington Apple Health Medicaid Community Outreach
Monthly community outreach to help individuals in the community by offering education, resources and information regarding WellPoint Washington Apple Health and Medicaid. 1:30-3 p.m. at Quincy Public Library, 208 Central Ave. S. Info: 509-787-2359.
Ladies Night Out
Grab your friends and enjoy a night out while supporting the small businesses that make our town unique. Whether you’re stopping in for a snack, browsing local shops or discovering a new favorite spot, Ladies Night Out is designed to celebrate connection, community and local love. Sponsored by the Downtown Moses Lake Association. 5-8 p.m. in downtown Moses Lake. Info: 509-770-1700.
Feb. 13
Community Breakfast
Pancakes and sausage or biscuits, gravy and sausage, coffee and orange juice, plus door prizes. $7 dine in, $8 take-out. Proceeds support H.E. Gritman Senior Center. 7-10 a.m. at 118 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 509-659-1921.
Feb. 14
Family Speed Puzzling
Bring your crew of up to four people to see if you can complete a 350-piece puzzle first. The winning group will receive a gift card to the store. Cost is $20, and participants keep the puzzle whether they win or not. 1-2 p.m. at Sandbox Bookstore and Games, 102 E. Third Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-761-9630.
Leanna Shannon
Live music for Valentine’s Day. 5-7 p.m. at Moore Brewing Co., 302 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-707-0192.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Clika (R); Dracula (R); Iron Lung (R); Melania (PG); Mercy (PG-13); Send Help (R); Shelter (R); Solo Mio (PG); Strangers: Chapter 3 (R); Zootopia 2 (PG). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Wuthering Heights (R); Send Help (R); Iron Lung (R); Solo Mio (PG); GOAT (PG). See showhouse3.wordpress.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: Marty Supreme (R). 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo star in “Wicked: For Good,” showing free at the Quincy Public Library Friday.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake author’s book, “A Christian Woman Striving to Live Her Faith in a Man-Controlled World,” takes aim at the role to which many churches relegate the female half of their congregations. “It’s to encourage women in the faith,” Linda Curran said. “A lot of churches say, ‘Teach Sunday school, do this, do that, but don’t (evangelize.)’" In her book, Curran recounts a time when she moved to a new community and joined a church there. She was surprised to learn that, as a new female member, she had been automatically assigned church cleaning duties. When she questioned it, she wrote, she was met with condescension and her objections were brushed aside. In other churches, she said, women who were capable of teaching were relegated to “women’s ministry.”