A Bridge Between Two Towns

When Christie Roethlisberger walks into the Lake Chelan Community Center, she often brings something green with her — a clipping, a young plant, or a piece of the 25-year-old tree she has been nurturing at home for decades. Her role as The Center's plant caretaker wasn't planned. It emerged the way many meaningful things do: naturally, quietly, and from a desire to add something simple that brings joy.

She works upstairs as the bookkeeper for Real Life Church, and when the church moved into its new space, she brought in some of her plants to warm up the office. Brooke Isaak, President of the Lake Chelan Community Center Board, noticed the greenery — and the care behind it — and asked if The Community Center might benefit as well. Soon Christie found herself tending plants in both spaces, returning once or twice a week to water, trim, and nurture each one.

"It wasn't necessary," she said. "But it brings joy. And it was a niche I could fill."

A Caretaker’s Window Into Daily Life

What Christie didn't expect was how tending to the plants would give her a unique window into the building's soul. As she moves between the upstairs offices and the lobby below, she sees what many miss. In the full year The Community Center has been open, she has never once walked in and found the building empty. Even late into the evening, people are talking, studying, playing, or sharing a moment.

"It's becoming a hub of activity," she said. "If community is about people, then the conversation is where life happens."

Small Moments That Reveal Big Meaning

Catching their breath while toddlers explore the indoor playground, one moment sticks with her: a mom lying on the floor in the children's play area, quietly scrolling on her phone while her daughter played. Christie smiled when she realized the mom had found something precious.

"She had ten minutes of quiet," Christie said. "Ten minutes to plan her daughter's birthday party. That's the kind of small gift this place gives people."

Another memory touched her even deeper. One day, she walked in and saw five young men — friends from her daughter's school years — sitting together in a circle, reading scripture and talking about life. "Seeing them choose that moment was moving for me," she said. "Lives were being changed right here."

Christie knows what it feels like to arrive in Chelan not knowing a soul. Her family moved here 25 years ago "on faith alone," and she sees The Center offering the same kind of welcome to others — especially those navigating the quiet divide between Chelan and Manson.

"We're literally in the middle of two towns," she said. "This is a bridge."

She's encouraged by the Boys & Girls Club partnership, the transportation now provided by the Manson School District, and the early signs of growing cross-valley connection. She hopes Link Transit will one day add a stop right at the door. "There are so many ways this place can draw people together," she said.

Breaking Misconceptions With Firsthand Truth

Christie has heard the misconceptions — that taxes paid for the building, or that it exists solely to support a church. Working upstairs and volunteering downstairs gives her a clear perspective.

"Our church office space is one component," she said. "But so are the Boys & Girls Club, counseling, the commercial kitchen, the fitness center, and not too far off, the gym. It's all of these together that make The Center valuable."

Despite the energy and activity happening all around her, what Christie feels most when she walks inside is peace. She credits the light, the colors, the thoughtful design — and extends a special shout-out to the cleaning staff, who manage 24 toilets a day and an ongoing battle with dirt, dust, and constant foot traffic. "They work their behinds off," she said. "And it shows."

For Christie, The Center is not a finished picture — it's an invitation.

"Just because something isn't offered today doesn't mean it can't exist tomorrow," she said. "The building is ready. We need people to fill it with their ideas."

A Message of Gratitude and Encouragement

When she thinks about gratitude, she begins with the team who spent years building this place. "The dedication of the board and staff — this wouldn't exist without all of you," she said.

Her message to the community is simple: "You have to see it. Step inside. Look around. Draw your own conclusion."

And until they do, she'll keep watering the plants, watching the people, and helping community grow — quietly, gently, one green leaf and one small moment at a time.

To make a tax-deductible contribution, visit our fundraising page or contact Executive Director Maribel Cruz at maribel@chelancommunity.org.