At the confluence of the Okanogan and Columbia rivers about 25 miles north of Lake Chelan in north-central Washington sits Brewster, one of the most important little towns you’ve never heard of.
Golfers began taking notice last year when members of the Gebbers family, who own many of the orchards in the area, built a links-style golf course, Gamble Sands (www.gamblesands.com ).
It’s now drawing regional attention.
A new hotel is opening on grounds this summer offering spectacular views of the Columbia River valley and adjacent mountains.
Fishermen, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts might know it for its famous summer salmon runs and productive fall hunting seasons.But what you likely didn’t know is that it’s one of the most productive tree fruit, cherry, beef cattle, lumber and power-producing regions in the state.
A unique arrangement with Costco almost guarantees that the cherries you buy there are from Brewster. Products from this region, though, are shipped around the world as well leveraging these unique packaging techniques that hold flavor and keep fruit fresh longer.
Snohomish County is now exporting an important product to Brewster of its own.
Two years ago, Snohomish County Boys & Girls executive director Bill Tsoukalas (zoo-cal-us) led an effort to open a new club there, chartered through his organization since there wasn’t an existing neighboring Boys & Girls Club in the Wenatchee Valley.
It is taking off quickly.
Brewster is part of Snohomish County’s broader strategy to bring clubs to under served or rural communities like some of the smaller communities they have brought clubs to locally, such as Sultan and Granite Falls. The organization used a grant that allowed it to help open clubs outside of the county.
In the past 20 years the number of clubs has quadrupled, including Snohomish County’s partnership with the Tulalip Tribes that is a model for these rural clubs opening outside of the county.
“In addition to Brewster, we’ve opened new clubs in the past year in partnership with the Colville and Spokane tribes” explains Tsoukalas. “We’ve been able to do this without detracting from our core geographic footprint in Snohomish County.”
“In rural places like Brewster, we’re introducing our story to people who may have heard of us but needed an existing organization to guide their start.
“It takes a year or two for them to understand how important the club is to their community. Once they see the value and adopt it as their own, things really take off. That’s what we see happening there already. Eventually they will spin off and become an independent Boys & Girls Club organization. That’s the ultimate goal. We’re the venture capital that gives them their start.”
Tsoukalas has a sweet spot for Brewster, in particular.
“It’s a two way street and shows how dependent we are on each other. The Brewsters of the world grow the products we consume and we help nurture the kids from the families who grow and harvest it.
“It’s really rewarding to be part of that and create that connection to Snohomish County.”
Tom Hoban is CEO of The Coast Group of Companies. Contact him at 425-339-3638 or tomhoban@coastmgt.com or visit www.coastmgt.com. Twitter: @Tom_P_Hoban.
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