BASIN EVENTS: May 8-16
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. | May 8, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — The weather is just about perfect and there are things going on all over the Basin. Here are some options to check out.
May 8-10
‘Dear Evan Hansen’
Basin Community Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical. 7:10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 1:10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Moses Lake High School Theater, 803 E. Sharon Ave. Tickets and info: basincommunitytheatre.com.
May 9
Paint, Sip & Live Music
Paint class led by Brittany Jahns, live music with Stadyc Stromberg and Alysen Hesselroth and more. Tickets $50 and include all paint supplies, two drink tickets and a chance to be entered in a movie night package raffle. 6:30 p.m. at The Showhouse, 130 N. Broadway Ave., Othello. Info: othelloshowhouse.com.
Cinco de Mayo Farmers Market
Fresh produce from the greenhouses, Mother’s Day baskets, forever bouquets, treats and baked goods. Hosted by Little Owl Farms. 9 a.m. at Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant, 222 Basin St. SW, Ephrata. Info: littleowlfarms.com.
Barracuda Golf Tournament
Raffles, prizes and a great time. Proceeds benefit Othello Barracudas swim team. 10 a.m. at Sage Hills Golf Course, 10400 Sagehill Road SE, Warden. Info: [email protected].
May 9
St. Rose of Lima Coconut Crawl
Participants run, walk or hula their way through a one-mile or 5K race option. Participants are awarded a finisher lei. Food available from local vendors. 11 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, 520 Nat Washington Way, Ephrata. Info: www.saintroseschool.org.
Quincy Public Market Popup and Car Show
Vendors, food and classic vehicles of all kinds. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at 1004 F. St. SE, Quincy. Info: 509-794-3445.
May 14
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 Bethel Assembly of God, 915 S. First Ave., Othello. Info: 2-harvest.org.
May 15
Old Time Fiddlers
Musical jam for anyone who wants to play or just enjoy the music. 2-4 p.m. at the Moses Lake Senior Center, 608 E. Third Ave. Info: 509-765-7809.
May 16
Community Bike Repair Event
Bring your bike, get repairs and learn maintenance skills. Basic repairs done free. For ages 5-16. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Othello Christian Church, 915 E. Rainier St. Info: 509-488-2208.
HOSA Color Run
Lace up for a color-filled 5k run. Race kit includes bib, sunglasses, optional T-shirt and take-home color packet. 8 a.m. check-in, 9 a.m. shotgun start at the Grant Elementary/Ephrata High School parking lot. Info: [email protected].
High Tea at the Garden
Step into an elegant, Regency-inspired afternoon at our High Tea. Enjoy fine teas, sparkling beverages, classic tea-time treats, and a charming mini-bloom bar where you can craft your own petite bouquet to take home along with a keepsake teacup and other sweet treasures. Proceeds support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at The Garden Event Center, 605 E Nelson Road, Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-4030.
Community Shred Event
Bring old bills and sensitive documents to be destroyed safely. Sponsored by Windermere Moses Lake. Four-box maximum. No charge. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Surf ‘n Slide Water Park parking lot, 410 W. Fourth Ave., Moses Lake.
5 Mile Drive
Live bluegrass concert. Adults $5, kids 12 and younger free. There will be a hat-pass for the musicians. Refreshments served by the Georgettes. 3 p.m. at the George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency Blvd. Info: www.georgecommunityhall.com.
The Wicked Pickles
Moses Lake cover band featuring a mix of ’80s and classic rock, with a little country, pop, and alternative sprinkled in. 7-11 p.m. at Columbia Basin Eagles Lodge No. 2622, 1517 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-3312.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Animal Farm (PG); Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft (PG-13); Deep Water (R); The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PG-13); Michael (PG-13); Mortal Kombat II (R); Project Hail Mary (PG-13); The Sheep Detectives (PG); Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG); The Mummy (R). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: The Mummy (R); Mortal Kombat II (R); Animal Farm (PG); The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PG-13); Obsession (R). See othelloshowhouse.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: The Sheep Detectives (PG) 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
The Quincy Public Market will be the venue for a popup and car show Saturday.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.”