Articles by Laura Kostad

Laura Kostad is a freelance reporter for the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business and Senior Times. After completing her bachelor’s degree in creative writing at the University of Washington in 2015, she moved to Kennewick to pursue new opportunities and launch her career. She has been with the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business since 2017 and has enjoyed getting to know her new community through journalism. In her spare time, she enjoys working on the many book ideas she has and the occasional poem.
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Washington asparagus hangs in the balance

Washington is the national leader in asparagus, the crop that kicks off the fresh produce season. That title doesn’t come without challenges though. The industry continues to be undermined by…

Alexandra RoseLee, owner of White Glove Weddings, recently bought the 106-year-old brick building at 114 W. Kennewick Ave. in downtown Kennewick and plans to turn it into an intimate event center. (Photo by Ryan Jackman)

Historic downtown buildings poised to change hands

A 106-year-old building in downtown Kennewick and its 84-year-old neighbor will change hands after more than two decades. The sale will be another chapter in the buildings’ long, storied history.…

Chris Smith holds one of his radiation sampling tools at his 1854 Bronco Lane shop near the Richland Airport. He has been inventing and manufacturing specialized tools and providing solutions to Hanford contractors, Lamb Weston and those in the medical, aerospace and robotics sectors since 1986. He founded Intellegration LLC in 2003. Now, 20 years later, he’s ready to sell the business. (Photo by Laura Kostad)

Local inventor seeks to sell business focused ondesigning, manufacturing and engineering solutions

For over 20 years, the shop at 1854 Bronco Lane near the Richland Airport has been the creative lair of local inventor Chris Smith, owner of Intellegration LLC. The business’…

Jacqueline Musser Gering, center, runs Estate Details with the help of her husband, Bryson Gering, left, and mother, Teresa Musser. The estate auction business opened three years ago. Explosive growth pushed them to break off from Musser Brothers into their own LLC. A new headquarters with lease space is underway across the street from Trucks and Auto on Rickenbacker Drive near the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco. (Photo by Laura Kostad)

New buildings, new headquarters under construction at Musser auction complex

An estimated $3 million development signals growth at the Musser Bros. auction complex near the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco. But vehicles destined for the auction block won’t be found here.…

Workers guide a concrete beam into place for Pasco’s $36.2 million Lewis Street overpass project, which is expected to be completed in August or September. The overpass replaces the outdated underpass and will span the BNSF Railway yard and First Avenue. (File photo by Scott Butner Photography)

Roadway improvements in full swing across Tri-Cities

Warm weather has returned and roadmaking equipment is fired up. Engineers have been re-envisioning busy intersections and aging infrastructure to improve increased volume and safer walkability.  Here’s a city-by-city look…

After more than 40 years in business, Dan Stafford, owner of Dan’s Garage at 508 E. Bruneau Ave. in Kennewick, is looking to sell. The 2.5-acre property has become Eastern Washington’s destination for finding vintage and antique General Motors vehicle parts, as well as whole cars. (Photo by Laura Kostad)

Tri-Cities’ last stop for collectible car parts is for sale

A sturdy man, long of beard and hair walked before a lineup of American metal, wearing an insulated plaid flannel, reinforced work pants secured by a GMC belt buckle and…

Al Avelar stands in the open concept crepe kitchen at his new restaurant, Crepe Haus + El Compadre at 2100 N. Belfair St. in Kennewick. The restaurant features two diverse menus, crepes and Mexican.  (Photo by Laura Kostad)

2 menus, 1 roof: Kennewick restaurant caters to diverse dietary needs and palates

It’s not often that a vegan, a meat eater, a keto dieter and someone with celiac disease or a peanut allergy can all order from the same menu. Especially a…

Though plans for an indoor marketplace at Osprey Pointe are on hold to find a cost-effective solution for its heating system, James Sexton, owner of JMS Construction, is forging ahead to develop the waterfront site in Pasco.  (Courtesy JMS Construction)

Setbacks don’t deter big plans for Pasco’s Osprey Pointe Marketplace

Four years ago, plans to develop Osprey Pointe Marketplace were announced. When Eaty Gourmet couldn’t deliver, JMS Construction stepped up with a goal of breaking ground in 2020. Then Covid-19…

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Plans underway to open new food co-op store in Richland

The Tri-Cities is getting another shot to support a local food co-op. Alan Schreiber of Schreiber Farms in Eltopia is leading the effort. The fifth-generation farmer is leading a steering…

Spring begins this month and late March is when asparagus harvest season in our state typically gets underway. Though many of our region’s farmers markets begin in June with Pasco’s starting in May, there are other options to get fresh produce onto your plate. (Courtesy Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership / Jan Mennenga)

Support local farmers by taking advantage of locally-produced food

The Tri-Cities is surrounded by farms, orchards and vineyards. Our state is a national leader in the production of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, sweet cherries and spearmint oil. It is…

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September 29 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

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