Community Corner

🌱 How CWU’s top chef is reshaping campus dining from an Ellensburg farm

Also check out Wildcat Night Out on the Ellensburg Patch calendar

Thursday October 1st Patch AM
Thursday October 1st Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey there, Ellensburg! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How CWU's top chef is reshaping campus dining from an Ellensburg farm
  • See what's new on the walls at Ellensburg's Clymer Museum.
  • How a mistaken repossession turned into an arrest in Ellensburg.

Also on today's calendar: The Hammer Deaf Expo @ Washington 2026! and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Mostly sunny and beautiful, with a high of 70 and low of 48 degrees.
  • Friday: Sunny; breezy in the p.m., temps: high: 77, low: 45.
  • Saturday: Sunny and delightful, with a high of 76 and low of 42 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Ellensburg helped push CWU's Campus Executive Chef to new heights (cwu.edu) — Central Washington University's campus executive chef, Joe Ritchie, has built both his culinary career and a sustainability-focused family farm right here in Ellensburg, blending farm-to-table values with campus dining. He and his family raise livestock, garden extensively, and prioritize quality ingredients for CWU students, all while crediting Ellensburg's welcoming community and rural lifestyle for making the last seven years especially rewarding.
   

2. NEW ON VIEW: CWU partners with Clymer Museum to showcase student/alumni artwork (dailyrecordnews.com) — Ellensburg art lovers can catch a new CWU alumni and student exhibition, "Storytellers," opening Friday, Oct. 2 at the Clymer Museum on North Pearl Street. Alongside fresh local work, two newly acquired John Clymer paintings and a rare grouping of his Spanish-American Western pieces will be on display through Nov. 15, with convenient Thursday-Saturday visiting hours.
   

3. Repo man arrested after allegedly trying to seize wrong vehicle (dailyrecordnews.com) — An Ellensburg woman reported a frightening late-night encounter after a man allegedly tried to repossess her recently purchased Ford Explorer outside her home on East Berry Road, leading to his arrest. Police say the suspect had no proper paperwork and may have targeted the wrong vehicle, and prosecutors warn additional charges could follow as the case moves forward in Kittitas County Superior Court.
   

4. Pacific NorthWest Allied Grocery Stores October Contract Action Team Meetings — UFCW 3000 (ufcw3000.org) — Union grocery workers in Ellensburg can join a UFCW 3000 Contract Action Team meeting at D&M Coffee on South Water Street the evening of October 20. The schedule also lists many other meeting locations statewide, giving members several options to learn about contract issues, ask questions, and get involved in negotiations.
   

5. College roundup: East Valley's Mellick scores Central's first game-winning goal (yakimaherald.com) — Ellensburg fans saw Central Washington women's soccer earn its first win of the season at Tomlinson Stadium, powered by a header from East Valley alum Shannah Mellick. Central volleyball also climbed back into the Division II top 25 and returns to Nicholson Arena this week, while Ellensburg's Joely Tornow helped Yakima Valley volleyball stay unbeaten in NWAC East play.
   


📸 Around Ellensburg

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!


🗓 Upcoming Events in Ellensburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Tuesday October 6
  • Wildcat Night Out →
    Ellensburg Downtown Association, 109 E 3rd Ave #1, Ellensburg
    7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!


Other local events
    Friday October 2
  • Free Side Fridays at The Pearl Bar & Grill
    Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, 402 N Pearl St., Ellensburg
    12:00 pm
  • First Friday Art Walk
    Downtown Ellensburg
    5:00 pm
  • Saturday October 3
  • The Hammer Deaf Expo @ Washington 2026! →
    Central Washington University, 400 East University Way, Ellensburg
    9:00 am
  • Monday October 5
  • Method Mondays at Upsidedown Wine
    Upsidedown Wine, 205 E 1st St, Cle Elum
  • Volleyball @ East Valley
    Ellensburg School District Ellensburg, WA 98926
    4:00 pm
  • Tuesday October 6
  • 10% off Tuesday for CWU Students! - Cornerstone Italian Kitchen
    Cornerstone Italian Kitchen & The Dirty Olive, 307 E 5th Ave, Ellensburg
  • Happy Hour at Dru Bru!
    Dru Bru - Cle Elum; Dru Bru - Sno Pass, 1015 E 2nd St.; 10 Pass Life Way #3, Cle Elum; Snoqualmie Pass
    12:00 pm
  • Wednesday October 7
  • The Pearl Bar & Grill All Day Happy Hour
    Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, 402 N. Pearl St., Ellensburg
  • UKC Woodworking Club
    UKC Senior Center, 719 E. Third St., Cle Elum
    8:30 am
  • Wine-Charm Wednesday! - Cornerstone Italian Kitchen
    Cornerstone Italian Kitchen & The Dirty Olive, 307 E 5th Ave, Ellensburg
    11:00 am
  • Gray Ghost - Ages 21 and up →
    Valo, North Pearl Street, Ellensburg
    6:00 pm

📣 Ellensburg Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!


Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.


Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.


💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Tractor Supply posted a job opening for Team Member, Petsense in Ellensburg. Apply here.
  • footprint Solutions posted a job opening for Part Time Merchandiser in Ellensburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ellensburg here.

Ok Ellensburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


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