Are you ready for The GOLDYS?

Trisha Atchley – Citizen of the Year Nominee

Trisha Atchley is the owner of Fairy Godmother’s Events and the president of the Klickitat County Harvest Festival, a growing community celebration she co-created with local businesses to elevate Goldendale’s annual Trunk-or-Treat into a signature festival for the entire Gorge. Trisha is a creative force in the community, always looking for ways to bring joy, collaboration, and connection. She has helped paint a mural on the General Store building alongside Ashley Cooper of Field of Stars, leaving a lasting mark of color and inspiration in downtown Goldendale.

She also serves as a Goldendale Chamber of Commerce Board Director, where she shares her expertise in design, social media, and websites to support other businesses and organizations. Trisha’s dedication goes beyond her professional roles. She truly believes in building a strong, supportive community for her seven-year-old daughter and for all families in the Gorge. She emphasizes teamwork, knowing that thriving events and projects take many hands and big hearts.

Her vision, energy, and commitment to collaboration make her a shining example of leadership and service. “I love creating fun events for our community as well as collaborating with other businesses. Klickitat County Harvest Festival is an event I have created with others to elevate Trunk-or-Treat, and our goal is to grow it into a large event for the Gorge that drives people to our small town. I truly enjoy being part of what others are doing and try to support those in ways I can. Without community people like the ones I work with, I wouldn’t be able to create what I do—it truly takes a bunch of people to make a thriving event.”

Citizen of the Year Nominee, Sandra Choate

My husband and I moved to Goldendale 19 years ago from San Francisco,
where I was a horticulturist and park supervisor for the SF Recreation and
Parks Dept. In order to get to know our new community and make as many
new friends as possible I volunteered with as many groups and clubs as I
could. Over the years two of those groups have stayed with me and become
central to my life and close to my heart. Soroptimist International of
Goldendale, where I am currently serving as club president is one of those.
Our mission is to improve the lives of women and girls by investing in their
dreams and helping to remove obstacles to their education. I’ve helped
organize the annual Vintage Tea and Fashion Show for several years and it
has become one of the highlights of the year in our community and a
successful fundraiser.
My other passion is art and creating public access to art. I’ve served in the
past as president of the Golden Art Guild and as committee chair for the more
recent Art at the Heart of Goldendale committee, which through the Chamber
of Commerce has accomplished the beautiful Four Corners project
downtown, installing murals and mosaics in the heart of the town. Today I’m
very excited to be spearheading the new Creative District committee with the
goal of getting Goldendale certified by the State of Washington Arts
Commission as an official Creative District. This will provide economic
development benefits as well as amplifying and enhancing our local culture
and arts scene.
I am owner of Monkeyshines Studio and Gallery on Columbus Ave which is
a vintage and antique shop in the front and my mosaic art studio in the back,
where I create mosaics and teach classes. I have recently added a little
sharing library in front of the shop for anyone to take or trade books.
Some of my other volunteer endeavors have been with the KVH Hospice
program, Maryhill Museum, the clothing bank, the soup kitchen, and as a
lifetime member of the Friends of the Library.
I love our town and am excited to be a part of this community as we move
into the future.

Citizen of the Year Nominee, Jacqueline Eide

Jacqueline Eide is a local pharmacist, small business owner, and community leader proud to call Goldendale home. She owns Goldendale Pharmacy and Horizon Pharmacy in Wapato, where she and her team work hard to make healthcare simple, accessible, and personal. With experience in both chain and independent pharmacies, Jacqueline has focused on expanding services so families can get more of the care they need close to home.

In addition to her work in healthcare, Jacqueline serves as President of the Greater Goldendale Chamber of Commerce, where she supports local businesses and helps strengthen community connections. She is also active in pharmacy organizations and passionate about improving healthcare access in rural communities. Above all, Jacqueline values the relationships she builds with her patients and the chance to make a positive difference in the everyday health of Goldendale residents.

Citizen of the Year Nominee, Danielle Clevidence

After completing a thirty-year career in the United States Navy, where she retired as a
Command Master Chief and was awarded three Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals,
Danielle Clevidence and her husband chose Goldendale as their new home in 2020.
This move marked the beginning of an energetic new chapter for Danielle, defined by
deeper involvement and meaningful contributions to the community.
Faith, family, and civic responsibility form the cornerstone of Danielle's values. Her
devotion to God and her belief in the importance of family, even without children of her
own, have been expressed in her commitment to nurturing the next generation. She has
taught Religious Education to local 7th and 8th graders, imparting moral guidance and
encouragement.
Danielle’s loyalty to Veterans and their families is unwavering. She has devoted
countless volunteer hours at the American Legion, serving in a variety of roles that
support and honor those who have served the nation. Her spirit of service naturally
extended to the broader community. Desiring to do more and to address local needs,
Danielle ran for and was elected to the Goldendale City Council in 2023.
As a council member, Danielle serves on both the Budget and Events Committees. She
played a significant role in facilitating Community Days, a vibrant event that brought
together residents and showcased Goldendale’s civic pride. Her commitment to
economic development is further evidenced by her board membership with the Mid
Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD), where she advocates for the
growth and success of local businesses.
Environmental stewardship is also at the heart of Danielle’s service. As a member of the
Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC), she has worked collaboratively to update the
Solid Waste Management Plan. Her efforts include recommending strategies for waste
reduction, recycling programs, and public education, all geared toward a cleaner, more
sustainable community.
Danielle’s passion for culture and beautification finds expression through her
involvement with Art at the Heart of Goldendale. Alongside a dynamic group of artists,
she helped plan and support murals at the city’s “four corners” and contributed to the
restoration and painting of downtown benches, enriching Goldendale’s visual
landscape.
Her dedication to community improvement extends to her work with the non-profit
Goldendale Community Enrichment (GCE). Partnering with Republic Services and the
county, she helps organize the annual city-wide cleanup, which successfully removes
tons of unwanted garbage, leaving the city cleaner and more welcoming.
Danielle also supports literacy and public safety as an active member of the Friends of
the Library and the Sheriff’s Posse. Her engagement in these groups highlights her holistic approach to civic duty—supporting education, the arts, the environment, and
community welfare.