Articles by Guest Contributor
Firefighting experience offers glimpse into servant leadership
By Melanie Hair Time critical. Highly technical. Labor intensive. These three phrases were repeated throughout my daylong stint as a firefighter trainee on March 23 at the Volpentest HAMMER federal training facility at the Hanford site in Richland. Called Fire Ops 101, the multi-agency event is designed to show everyday Joes and Janes what it’s…
Moving toward sustainability at work or home begins with one step
By Gail Everett All this talk about sustainability only widens the gap between those who get it and those who are too overwhelmed to start. In general, being sustainable means doing your best to avoid the depletion of our natural resources and reducing your adverse impact by being careful stewards of the resources you are…
Washington wine grape harvest falls short of record
By Andy Perdue As predicted last fall, Washington’s wine grape crop fell short of record numbers, according to the annual harvest report recently released by the Washington State Wine Commission. The total crushed last fall added up to 227,000 tons, down considerably from 2016, when winemakers crushed a record 270,000 tons. Even so, that total…
Hospitality association’s top priority for year is tourism
By Anthony Anton I love hospitality. We are welcoming and solution-oriented, constantly finding ways to improve the experience we deliver to guests. The team here at the Washington Hospitality Association is working on solutions to policy issues that fit the needs of our industry and work for Washingtonians. During the past several years, we’ve had…
Degrees of hospitality limited only by imagination
By Marilou Shea Hospitality is a vast industry comprised of a lot of different things — food and beverage, lodging, conventions, travel, attractions and leisure. The industry is typically divided into two measureable sectors: arts, entertainment and recreation; and accommodations and food services. I’m going to focus on the latter because that’s where the job…
Winemaker offers advice for choosing best wine for casual dinner party
By David Forsyth OK, so here’s the challenge. I’ve got company visiting from out-of-town, California wine country to be exact, folks who know and are active in the wine industry. Which Washington wine should be served to showcase the true essence of Washington wine? Do I distill the choice down to one white and one…
Channel the art of hospitality to keep customers coming back
By Robert J. Harrington Hospitality and tourism make up one of the largest industries in the United States. At the same time, the market is saturated with competition, and consumer expectations are evolving. In changing times, how can hospitality businesses change to meet the needs of their customers and still run a successful operation? One…
Vandervert Construction’s financial crisis sends ripples through construction industry
By Kevin Blocker, Spokane Journal of Business A Coeur d’Alene-based company recently laid off four employees as a direct consequence of Vandervert Construction Inc. entering into receivership. Aaron Kayser, owner of Innovative Electrical Solutions LLC, said the workers were dedicated exclusively to working on projects for the now-shuttered Spokane-based general contractor. “I don’t think I’ll…
How to protect against attractive nuisances to avoid liability
By Beau Ruff If you’ve ever driven past an abandoned house with rusted play equipment in plain sight and thought that it looked like a dangerous trap for unwary children, then you intuitively know about the concept of an “attractive nuisance.” Landowners owe a duty to those who come on their property. The level of…
State legislator’s bill aims to protect citizens in wake of federal pot crackdown
By Michelle Dupler If one Washington lawmaker has his way, the federal government won’t be able to look to state employees for help enforcing federal marijuana prohibitions. Rep. David Sawyer, D-Tacoma, introduced House Bill 2124 in the wake of the Jan. 4 memorandum by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructing federal prosecutors to resume enforcement…
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Around Town Photo Gallery
Area agriculture producers, processors and industry officials set a new event record by raising more than $91,000 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities Inland Northwest on June 13 at the fifth annual Ag World Golf Classic at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick. Ag World Support Systems was joined by co-hosts Simplot, Lamb Weston, McCain Foods and Potato Growers of Washington to make the 18-hole scramble a success. (Courtesy Ag World Golf Classic)
A Pasco Fire Department uniform serves as a photo backdrop for youngsters at the June 30 Pasco Farmers Market. Department officials were on hand to discuss home fire escape plans, smoke alarms and hands-only CPR, a form of CPR that doesn’t require rescue breathing on adults. (Courtesy Pasco Fire Department)
Jason Lee of Richland, a Navy veteran and union recruiting specialist with UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 598, was busy chasing ducks and geese on a dream hunt in Saskatchewan while filming an upcoming episode of Brotherhood Outdoors TV. He was selected to appear on the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s television series to highlight his work ethic and commitment to the service of his country and community. The episode aired on the Sportsman Channel. (Courtesy Union Sportsmen’s Alliance)
Campers watch their rockets soar June 29 at Washington State University Tri-Cities’ middle school science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, camp in Richland. WSU offered seven camps, with many selling out, including Fantastic Flight, a camp to explore flying machines that included creating catapults, slingshots and rockets. (Courtesy WSU Tri-Cities)
