Have you loved the classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” forever? Can you imagine watching it with the yellow brick road wrapping around you? Or hearing Judy Garland’s voice surrounding you from 167,000 speakers? Or literally feeling the winds in the tornado scene? Only in Vegas. And only at The Sphere, which opened in 2023 as a huge venue to provide immersive video and audio sensory experiences.
And so, three cousins with ties to Omena recently enjoyed a quick girls get-away to Las Vegas to have that experience. Marian Electa Powell, “Electa”, traveled from Mukilteo, Washington, and Cynthia “Cynnie” Renz First traveled from Bellingham, Washington. Marjorie Smith came from Denver. All three cousins were born in the last half of the Baby Boomer era. Their great grandfather and grandfather’s apple growing business, Thomas S. Smith and Sons, had purchased what is now the Omena Heights Smith Orchard in the 1920’s and they spent summers growing up together.
Cynnie and Marjie are also “double cousins”, since brother and sister, Craig Smith and Rat Smith married brother and sister, Bill Renz and Holly Renz. Craig and Holly were Marjie’s parents, and Bill and Rat Cynnie’s. The three cousins have remained close.
