Longtime restaurant family to open new eatery in Columbia Park
A
longtime Kennewick restaurant soon will be serving golfers-on-the-go, as well
as those who want to relax on a patio featuring river views in Columbia Park.
CG
Public House and Catering will open Bite at the Landing at the Columbia Park
Golf Tri-Plex in late September.
Construction
of the city of Kennewick’s 2,600-square-foot Columbia River Landing facility
was completed in June and will continue to host golf course operations in
addition to the new eatery.
The
new $1.1 million building includes a full-service kitchen and 1,200-square-foot
patio.
Prior
to serving patrons at its 9221 W. Clearwater Ave. location since 2006, owners
Shirley and Steve Simmons operated the Country Gentleman and Wyatt’s Pancake
Corral at Highway 395 and Vista Place dating back to 1979.
The
new restaurant, operated by their son Kyle Simmons, offers the restaurateurs an
opportunity to attract a new audience, add menu items and host more events and
activities.
An
application to serve local wines, beers and craft cocktails has been submitted
to the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
In
addition to the restaurant, the rebranded golf tri-plex offers 18 holes of
traditional golf on a 3-par course, foot golf and disc golf.
Pasco receives $3M grant to expand food processing
Pasco
received a $3 million federal grant for water infrastructure improvements
needed to serve food processing and other businesses in the region.
U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross made the announcement Aug. 8. The grant will
be matched with $3.9 million in local funds and is expected to help create or
retain 700 jobs. It will generate nearly $36 million in private investment.
The
Pasco project involves building dual force mains and a pump station at Pasco’s
process water use facility to increase capacity to serve the expansion and
location plans of food processing and other businesses.
The
grant serves a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act-designated Opportunity Zone to spur
economic development by giving tax incentives to investors in economically-distressed
communities nationwide.
New art installed at Columbia Center Boulevard
Commuters
along Columbia Center Boulevard and Fourth Avenue might be taking a second
look.
Installation
of eight metal jackrabbits, each 5 feet tall, began July 20, with work provided
by volunteers from LiUNA! Laborers’ Local 348.
The
jackrabbits are the solution from the Kennewick Arts Commission for vacant land
leftover from a disbanded homeowners association. The arts commission is
funding the project and maintenance. Jason Watson designed the jackrabbits,
which were fabricated at a local machine shop.
Digital Crush marketing summit set for Oct. 11
Digital
Crush, an annual digital marketing summit, is set for Oct. 11 at the Three
Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.
The
one-day conference is designed to bring together and educate digital marketers
and small business owners.
Tickets
are $199 for general admission and $224 to include VIP networking.
For tickets and list of speakers, go to thedigitalcrush.com.
Applicants’ salary history off limits to employers
Recent
changes to Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act will prevent employers
from asking for wage or salary history of job applicants, the state Department
of Labor & Industries announced recently.
The
law also would make it illegal to request that information from previous
employers. Additionally, current employees who are offered a transfer, new
position or promotion must be shown the new job’s wage scale or salary range if
they request it.
“For
too long, wage disparities have continued between individuals doing equal
work,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a release. “The protections established in this
law are the next step toward finally leveling the playing field.”
Washington
joins California and Oregon in passing the restrictions.
Benton County District Court office open for lunch
The Benton County
District Court office began remaining open during the noon hour on Aug. 5.
The change will allow
people to conduct court business during their lunch break.
The
district court office—at 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Bldg. A in Kennewick —is open
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New nonprofit forms to focus on mental health
A
new nonprofit dedicated to raising money to help meet the unmet needs of mental
health in the community has formed. Called Heads Up Tri-Cities, it was founded
in mid-June by a group of women focused on mental health and the need to make a
difference.
Formed
by former Lourdes Foundation board members as well as former staff, Heads Up
Tri-Cities aims to support mental health needs and will develop creative
solutions through collaboration.
Fundraising
efforts, as well as educational outreach, will be the organization’s focus,
said Wendee Bodnar, the group’s president.
Two
organizations the group will be collaborating with on its first of many
fundraisers are Lutheran Community Services and Emmaus Counseling Services.
Kicking
off a season of fundraising, Heads Up Tri-Cities is planning a tailgate
fundraiser Sept. 29 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick. Patty Wagon
Taps will deliver beverages and several food trucks will serve up food. This
21-and-over event has limited seating. Table sponsorships to seat eight are $500
and available by calling Bodnar at 509-531-2401.
WSU fundraising hits $145.8M in fundraising
Washington
State University has raised $145.8 million in fiscal year 2019, the
third-highest total in WSU history and the most raised without the aid of a
fundraising campaign.
The money came from nearly 49,000 donors.
Among the programs expected to benefit are WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine
and the WSU Honors College.
Reading Foundation hires new executive director
The
Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia has hired a new executive
director.
Elizabeth
Barnes will begin her new role Aug. 30.
Barnes
previously served as the elementary and early childhood principal at Colegio
Interamericano in Guatemala.
She
has a bachelor’s in bilingual elementary education from Washington State
University and a master’s in education in educational leadership from Concordia
University in Portland, Oregon.
Barnes’
focus for the past 13 years has been working with nonprofits to assist in
providing high quality education globally for a range of socio-demographics.
“With
Elizabeth’s extensive knowledge and experience in bilingual education and her
previous work with marginalized children around the world, we are confident
that she will make a lasting impact on the Mid-Columbia community,” said Steve
Palm, president of the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, in a
news release.
Barnes succeeds Sara Schwan, who led the
organization for more than five years.
Tech summit scheduled for Sept. 11 in Richland
The
second annual Tri-Cities Tech Summit is scheduled for Sept. 12 at the Uptown
Theatre in Richland. A social for networking is Sept. 11.
Keynote
speaker for the event is Paul Jarrett, co-founder and CEO of Bulu Box.
The
summit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Manhattan Project, and part
of the theme will highlight technology that came from the project and its
impact on the Tri-Cities.
The
summit is organized by Teknologize, Wildland and the Tri-Cities Research
District.
Early-bird tickets are $39, or $54, which includes a networking social, and can be purchased at tctechsummit.com.
Premera Blue Cross will pay $10M for data breach
Premera Blue Cross
will pay $10 million for failing to secure sensitive consumer data, state
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced July 11.
Premera will pay $5.4
million to Washington and another $4.6 million to a coalition of 29 state
attorneys general that joined Ferguson’s investigation.
Premera, the largest
health insurance company in the Pacific Northwest, also was accused of
misleading consumers about the breach that gave a hacker access to patient
information for 10.4 million people over nearly a year in 2014-15.
The company had been warned for years prior to the breach that it
had inadequate security. After the breach became public, Premera’s call center
agents told consumers there was no reason to believe their information had been
accessed.
Public comments sought for Hanford projects
Mission Support
Alliance is seeking public comment on a pair of projects and also extending the
comment period for a third.
A public meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, on plans to connect waste transfer lines at Hanford. The comment period runs through Sept. 16, and comments can be left at wt.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=GU4pS.
There is a second comment period for a proposed operating permit for the Low-Activity Waste and Effluent Management facilities. Comments will be accepted through Aug. 30 and can be left at wt.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=eRmW5.
The public comment opportunity has been extended to Aug. 17 on an engineering evaluation/cost analysis evaluation for Hanford’s Plutonium Uranium Extraction complex. Comments can be emailed to PUREX_EECA@rl.gov or mailed to P.O. Box 550, H5-20, Richland, WA 99352.
Immigrant artwork exhibit on display in Kennewick
The
Tri-Cities Immigrant Coalition’s “Celebrating Our Immigrant Community through
the Arts” exhibit runs Sept. 7-15.
The
artwork will be on display at Monarcha Winery, 421 Columbia Drive, Kennewick.
The
exhibit opening kicks off from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 7, when visitors may browse the
art for free and talk to the artists.
Martin
Porras will sing and play his guitar, and Brandon Sullivan will read a poem he
wrote for the event. Monarcha will sell wine by the glass, and you can buy
non-alcoholic beverages and food from Fast and Curryous and El Taco Stop food
trucks. All ages are welcome.
Check the coalition’s Facebook page to see whose art will be in the show.
In
addition to the immigrant artists’ work, the coalition will display
environmental portraits of Tri-City immigrants by local photographer and
graphic designer Madison Rosenbaum.
The
art on display will be for sale.
Jacobs and Rhodes provides free HVAC for select families
Jacobs
and Rhodes Heating and Air Conditioning of Kennewick is taking part in a program
to deliver heating and cooling equipment to deserving families for free.
Lennox’s
Feel The Love program provides heating, ventilation or air conditioning
equipment for free to local dealers across the country, who then donate
installation materials and labor.
In
2018, the program assisted homeowners from 19 states and five Canadian
provinces by donating and installing more than 165 furnaces in recipients’
homes.
The deadline for nominations is Aug. 31, and installations will be Oct. 5-6. Nominees are selected in part on community involvement, military service and financial hardship. For information or to nominate a family, go to feelthelove.com.
BIAW sues governor, state over building legislation
The
Building Industry Association of Washington filed suit against Gov. Jay Inslee,
the state of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife over
legislation that created new fines for builders.
The
suit, announced July 16, is over House Bill 1579, which implements
recommendations from the Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force.
The
BIAW contends the governor acted unconstitutionally when he vetoed a subsection
of the bill. It maintains he can only veto an entire section, not just a
portion of it.
The
suit also claims the Legislature overstepped by including a provision in the
bill that was not a recommendation of the task force.
Richland receives $4M in public works loans
The
city of Richland will receive $4 million in loans from the state Public
Works Board for improvements to the Horn Rapids landfill.
The
Richland project was one of 30 from across the state included among
$85 million in loans for pre-construction and construction activities.
More than $248 million had been requested for 74 projects in the 2019
funding cycle.
Connell
was awarded $1.2 million for sewer work, and the Basin City Water District
$495,000 for water meters.
Charming Charlie stores closing after bankruptcy
Charming
Charlie women’s apparel and fashion accessories stores are closing nationwide,
including the one in the Columbia Center mall, after the company declared
bankruptcy July 11.
Sales
began July 13 in the company’s 261 stores.
The
store-closing sales are being conducted by Hilco Merchant Resources and SB360
Capital Partners.
BlankSpace event venue closing Sept. 2
BlankSpace,
a business designed to be an event venue and creative hub in the Southridge
area of Kennewick, will close its doors Sept. 2, three years after it opened.
Owner
Olivia Berg made the announcement on Facebook, citing long hours, time with her
family and time for other businesses as reasons for the closure.
“While
it is bittersweet to say farewell, we leave with full hearts,” Berg posted.
The
business opened in September 2016 with a goal to “encourage creativity, local
industry, charity and sustainability in a way that is relevant to consumers.”
During
that time, the venue at 5453 Ridgeline Drive hosted more than 600 events, from
art shows to baby showers, weddings to retirement parties.
Little Caesar’s coming to Kennewick strip mall
Remodeling
work at a Kennewick strip mall on Gage Boulevard is underway to welcome a
Little Caesar’s pizza restaurant.
The
nationwide franchise will be at 8530 W. Gage Blvd., sharing the strip mall with
The Local, Graze, Edible Arrangements and Noodle Thyme.
The
$650,000 in improvements include remodeling, plumbing and mechanical work.
Contractors
are Buehner Construction of Salt Lake City, Silverline Electric of Kennewick
and Jacobs and Rhodes Heating and Air Conditioning of Kennewick.
Homebuilding adds $8.4 billion to economy
New
home construction added $8.4 billion to Washington’s economy in 2018,
according to a report from the National Home Builders Association.
The
report, commissioned by the Building Industry Association of Washington,
examined the impact of construction of 24,000 single-family homes built in the
state in 2018.
It
examined the direct and indirect impacts of the construction industry itself,
employee income within the industry, and money from construction activity spent
within the state.
The
$8.4 billion is employee income from 103,315 jobs created. That is in
addition to $2.2 billion in state and local taxes. The report also shows
another $4 billion in “ripple effect”—spending of income and taxes—and
$1.6 billion from occupancy.
Benton County jail gets $3.7M in improvements
Benton
County is spending nearly $3.7 million to improve plumbing issues at the
jail.
The
project will replace failing plumbing in the older section of the jail, which
sits directly above the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
County
officials said the old boilers will be replaced and work will be done in the
restrooms to eliminate water intrusion. The recreation yard above the office
area will receive surface treatment to eliminate water intrusion as well.
Banlin
Construction and BNB Mechanical are the contractors for the project at 7122 W.
Okanogan Place.