Accounting firm helps clean up

Accountants don't often get their hands dirty, or so says Martin Straub, with a shovel in hand. But once a year, since 1988, the Wenatchee accounting firm of Cordell Neher and Company PLLC has done a community service project. On June 17 that project was at the Barn Beach Reserve in Leavenworth.

Straub is an accountant, as well as a member of the Barn Beach Reserve board. He said he brought the idea back to the firm and they chose it for this year.

"We're helping restore Frances Field's garden," Straub said. "We're here helping build the trail through the gardens that will be handicap accessible down to the beach and what we're doing today is mostly planting the native plants in the garden which were provided by Ted Alway, whose got a native garden in Peshastin."

David Stipe, the founding member of Project Groundwork, was also on the grounds Thursday helping with the landscaping.

One group used mulch to cover some areas and rocks to line the path. Some irrigation was also being worked on and another group finished the trail from the barn to the city property.

"The company is really committed to the community and a lot of them serve in board member roles which is how we learn about some of these projects," Straub said. "It's just a great way to give back to the community and do some team work that's outside of the office. We're accountants, so we're not used to getting our hands dirty very often so this is just a nice change from being in the office and working in a different way together. And we look forward to it every year."

The whole company, more than 30 people, turned out to assist in the project and spent the whole day working.

"We like to cycle up to Leavenworth from Wenatchee every couple of years and stretch out over all of our service areas," said managing partner Jeff Neher, who had a knee injury but was trying his best. "Even though some of us are gimpy, we're still all out here. It's a great project, it's outside and there is sun. It's a great project because of the sustainable reserve we have here and it's a natural setting. It's kind of nice."

Barn Beach Reserve Executive Director Jeff Parsons said he's grateful they came because the project would have cost a fortune without them.

"This is the Frances Field Memorial Garden that we're starting and Frances was a member of the Leavenworth Garden Club for many years. She lived here between the 1920s and the 1960s. And so this was her garden right in here," Parsons said, pointing at the hillside behind the former Fields' house, which now houses the Upper Valley Museum.

"It was neglected and got overgrown. So this project is to reestablish the Frances Field's garden and we actually got a donation from Robin Field Gainey who is the great granddaughter of Frances."

With that money, the Barn Beach Reserve was able to have a path on the hillside excavated. Mogle Excavation of Wenatchee did the project at a tremendous discount, Parsons said.

Homefires Bakery provided morning treats for the group and Starbucks donated coffee. Coca-Cola provided sodas and water. The Renaissance Cafe, South, and Safeway donated items for lunch.

Straub said the company planned to finish up at the Munchen Haus with some refreshments after a hard day's work.

"There is just a tremendous amount of volunteer activity going on here. We can't do a project like this without volunteers," Parsons said. "It's just simply impossible. And that's why it's so great to live in a community where we have community spirit and just want to make things better."

Chelsea Gorrow can be reached at 548-5286 or reporter@leavenworthecho.com