BASIN EVENTS CALENDAR: March 13-21
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 3 weeks AGO
“Up the Down Staircase,” a play about students, teachers and life, opens tonight at Moses Lake High School.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Rylei Franks will perform live at Michael’s Market & Bistro March 20.
Comedian Nate Ford will perform at Pastime Sportscenter in Ritzville March 21.
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. | March 13, 2026 4:15 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s been a little bit breezy, but nothing the Basin isn’t used to, and it’s certainly no excuse not to get out and do something fun this week. Here are some options.
March 13-17
‘Up the Down Staircase’
Step inside the halls of a bustling urban high school where idealism meets reality in this heartfelt and often humorous story of a young teacher finding her way. The play follows Sylvia Barrett as she begins her first teaching job – full of hope, enthusiasm, and big dreams. But between endless paperwork, rule books, red tape, and unforgettable students, she quickly learns that education is about far more than lesson plans. 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, 2 p.m. Saturday matinee at Moses Lake High School, 803 E. Sharon Ave. Info and tickets: https://bit.ly/MLHS-UTDS.
March 13
Sourdough for Beginners
Are you ready to finally take the plunge into sourdough and all of its benefits? Come learn a skill as old as time and get your hands doughy. Laura, a WSDA-certified commercial sourdough baker and instructor, will teach you all you need to know to bake an artisan sourdough boule from start to finish. Tickets $99, available at https://bit.ly/SourdoughTix26. 5-7:30 p.m. at The Drip, 123 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake. Info: [email protected].
Comedy Night
Featuring Tacoma-based Robert Ca$h Moore. 7 p.m. at Rick’s Eatery, 819 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-761-9644.
March 14
Lucky Finds Market
Local treasures, fresh spring foods, unique handmade gifts and more at this offseason event by the Moses Lake Farmers market. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-237-2100 or farmersmarketml.com.
Indoor garage sale
Homemade crafts, jewelry and more. 3 p.m. at U Rock Ranch, 465 Road T NE, Warden. Info: 509-350-0562.
Coffee & Canvas Spring Paint Event
Guided paint session with artist Nellie Hoots. Invite your friends and family for an evening of creativity, laughter, and maybe a little tea party magic. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Desert Rose Cafe, 745 E. Hemlock St, Othello. Registration and info: https://bit.ly/SpringPaint3-26.
March 17
Moses Lake Chamber Business Expo
Discover a vibrant showcase of local businesses, enjoy delicious food and drinks, play fun games, and connect with neighbors during a spirited community celebration together. This year’s theme is “Stars, Stripes & Shamrocks.” 4-7 p.m. at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr NE, Moses Lake. Info and registration: www.moseslake.com.
March 18
Create & Cackle
Do you like to make stuff? Do you have a project unfinished? Want to just hang out and finish a project? Just drop in, have a drink and a snack and create. Knitting, drawing, sewing, crocheting, perler beading, coloring, painting, origami or basket-weaving – the only limit is what you bring. Bring your own project and drinks/snacks and hang out with like-minded individuals. 6 p.m. at The Main Event, 116 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 843-323-2218.
March 19
Friends of the Moses Lake Library Book Sale
Peruse through gently used books and take home a new treasure for your home library. Proceeds go to help fund library programs. 2-6 p.m. at the Moses Lake Public Library, 418 E. Fifth Ave. Info: 509-771-7634.
March 20
Rylei Franks
Live music by local singer-songwriter. 5:30-8:30 po.m. at Michael’s Market & Bistro, 221 W. Boradway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: ryleifranks.com.
Rylei Franks will perform live at Michael’s Market & Bistro March 20.March 21
Cruisin’ into Spring Car Show
Classics, lowriders and more. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr NE, Moses Lake. Info: www.gcfairgrounds.com/cruisin.
Model Home Build Competition
Students in grades 6-8 are invited for a fun day of hands-on building. Model kits are provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own materials and add-ons. No charge, but registration required by March 13. Info and registration: https://bit.ly/HFHGML-ModelHome26.
Corral Creek
Bluegrass concert featuring American roots music and storytelling. Adults $5, kids 12 and younger free. There will be a hat-pass for the musicians. Refreshments served by the Georgettes. 5 p.m. at the George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency Blvd. Info: www.georgecommunityhall.com.
Nate Ford Live
Comedian Nate Ford has performed across the country, from the dimly lit dive bars that ooze with character to the grandeur of prestigious theaters, as well as being seen on “Last Comic Standing” and “The Prairie Home Companion.” 8-10 p.m. at Pastime Sportscenter, 119 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info and reservations: 509-428-4117.
Comedian Nate Ford will perform at Pastime Sportscenter in Ritzville March 21.This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: GOAT (PG); Hoppers (PG); I Can Only Imagine 2 (PG); Iron Lung (R); Reminders of Him (PG) Scream 7 (R); Solo Mio (PG); The Bride! (R); The Revenant (R); Undertone (R). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Scream 7 (R); Hoppers (PG); The Bride! (R); Scream 7 (R); Project Hail Mary (PG-13); Reminders of Him (PG-13) See showhouse3.wordpress.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: How to Make a Killing (R). 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
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.