GALLERY: Ribbon cuttings 2025
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months AGO
Cody Hall cuts the ceremonial ribbon at Blue Palm Frozen Treats in Moses Lake in February. Hall, who bought Blue Palm in 2020, remodeled the building completely and added ice cream to go with Blue Palm’s signature frozen yogurt.
FILE PHOTO
Owner Rick Rodriguez snips the ribbon on The Shack, an electronic accessory shop, in April. The Shack was the first tenant in the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Project.
Pure Country Harvest in Moses Lake celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a ribbon-cutting in April.
Dr. Michael Rees officially opens his dental clinic, Smile Surfers, with a ribbon-cutting in April.
Zach Moore, flanked from left by Chris Moore, Brooke Keith. Lorie Moore and Brad Moore, cuts the ribbon at Moore Brewing Company’s first birthday celebration in May.
From left, Quincy Valley Medical Center commissioners Anthony Gonzalez, Sherri Kooy, Michelle Talley, Randy Zolman and Chief Executive Officer Glenda Bishop cut the ribbon on the new QVMC in May.
Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation Executive Director Angel Ledesma cuts the ribbon at the foundation’s new office in Moses Lake in June.
Manager Anthony Briceno, left, watches as Silvia Martinez cuts the ribbon commemorating the remodel of the Othello Walmart in June.
The Up Town Art Gallery held a ribbon-cutting in June. The gallery is part of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Project.
Plume owner Janine Coutts cut the ribbon at her new store in the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Project in June.
Larisa Vorobey, left, with help from her daughters Noami, 3, and Allison, 18, cuts the ribbon on Psalms 23, the coffee shop Larisa and Allison opened in July in Moses Lake.
Brookdale Hearthstone Executive Director Laurie Ahmann, second from right, cuts the ribbon on the facility’s chapel surrounded by representatives of local churches and Brookdale Hearthstone staff.
State Rep. Alex Ybarra cuts the ribbon on the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Center in August. The canter houses the Chamber’s own office as well as five other small businesses.
Sun City Cycle & Sports owners Andrew Spark, left, and Jeremy O’Neil cut the ribbon on their new bike shop in Moses Lake in August.
Members of the community came to celebrate the ribbon cutting at Palmer’s Adventure Farm to kick off the start of their Fall Fest in September.
The Cape at Interlake Community Manager Nancy Hernandez, with a little help from State Rep. Alex Ybarra, cuts the ribbon on the new apartment complex in September.
Laura Farias, with her husband Martin Farias, numerous children and grandchildren and members of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, cuts the ribbon on Cold Diggers’ new location at Nelson Road and Pioneer Way in October.
Principal David Thomsen cuts the ribbon on CliftonLarsonAllen’s new office in Moses Lake in November. CLA is the first tenant in the brand-new Moberg Professional Building.
Dr. Calvin Despain, with a little help from his daughter Elsie and his son Taysom, cuts the ribbon at the new Skyview Dental Clinic in December.
Christine Villarreal, left, and Esmeralda Sanchez, right, hold the ceremonial ribbon as Mandy Schuh helps 3-year-old Roman make the cut at the grand opening of Pillar Rock Accounting, Seventh Sense Serenity and Christine’s Waxing Room in December.
Plume owner Janine Coutts cut the ribbon at her new store in the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Project in June.
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. | January 3, 2026 3:00 AM
MOSES LAKE — The Basin’s business community grew in 2025, and many businesses, especially Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce members, celebrated that growth by cutting a ribbon at new or upgraded locations. Here’s a look back at some of those events.
Editor's Note: The Columbia Basin Herald is proud to work with local businesses, and we encourage our readers to shop locally, whenever possible. Supporting local businesses boosts the local economy and supports neighbors' dreams.
Owner Rick Rodriguez snips the ribbon on The Shack, an electronic accessory shop, in April. The Shack was the first tenant in the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Project.
Pure Country Harvest in Moses Lake celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a ribbon-cutting in April.
Dr. Michael Rees officially opens his dental clinic, Smile Surfers, with a ribbon-cutting in April.
Zach Moore, flanked from left by Chris Moore, Brooke Keith. Lorie Moore and Brad Moore, cuts the ribbon at Moore Brewing Company’s first birthday celebration in May.
From left, Quincy Valley Medical Center commissioners Anthony Gonzalez, Sherri Kooy, Michelle Talley, Randy Zolman and Chief Executive Officer Glenda Bishop cut the ribbon on the new QVMC in May.
Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation Executive Director Angel Ledesma cuts the ribbon at the foundation’s new office in Moses Lake in June.
Manager Anthony Briceno, left, watches as Silvia Martinez cuts the ribbon commemorating the remodel of the Othello Walmart in June.
The Up Town Art Gallery held a ribbon-cutting in June. The gallery is part of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Project.
Plume owner Janine Coutts cut the ribbon at her new store in the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Project in June.
Larisa Vorobey, left, with help from her daughters Noami, 3, and Allison, 18, cuts the ribbon on Psalms 23, the coffee shop Larisa and Allison opened in July in Moses Lake.
Brookdale Hearthstone Executive Director Laurie Ahmann, second from right, cuts the ribbon on the facility’s chapel surrounded by representatives of local churches and Brookdale Hearthstone staff.
State Rep. Alex Ybarra cuts the ribbon on the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Catalyst Center in August. The canter houses the Chamber’s own office as well as five other small businesses.
Sun City Cycle & Sports owners Andrew Spark, left, and Jeremy O’Neil cut the ribbon on their new bike shop in Moses Lake in August.
Members of the community came to celebrate the ribbon cutting at Palmer’s Adventure Farm to kick off the start of their Fall Fest in September.
The Cape at Interlake Community Manager Nancy Hernandez, with a little help from State Rep. Alex Ybarra, cuts the ribbon on the new apartment complex in September.
Laura Farias, with her husband Martin Farias, numerous children and grandchildren and members of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, cuts the ribbon on Cold Diggers’ new location at Nelson Road and Pioneer Way in October.
Principal David Thomsen cuts the ribbon on CliftonLarsonAllen’s new office in Moses Lake in November. CLA is the first tenant in the brand-new Moberg Professional Building.
Dr. Calvin Despain, with a little help from his daughter Elsie and his son Taysom, cuts the ribbon at the new Skyview Dental Clinic in December.
Christine Villarreal, left, and Esmeralda Sanchez, right, hold the ceremonial ribbon as Mandy Schuh helps 3-year-old Roman make the cut at the grand opening of Pillar Rock Accounting, Seventh Sense Serenity and Christine’s Waxing Room in December.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.