Articles by Robin Wojtanik
Dozens of Tri-City subcontractors still left without paycheck
Contractors who once did business with Vandervert Construction Inc. are separating themselves into two groups: lucky or unlucky. “We are one of the lucky ones,” said Mary Rosen, controller for Richland-based Garrett Electric Company Inc. The lucky ones are those who got paid most or all of what they were owed for doing work for…
Sale to close soon on former aquatics center land in Pasco
Pasco is ready to offload nearly seven acres of land on the western side of the city once intended for a regional aquatics center. Pasco’s Deputy City Manager Stan Strebel said the 6.7-acre property is under contract with Moore Holdings at $5 a square foot, for a total purchase price of $1.5 million. Pasco originally…
Richland Dutch Bros. temporarily closes during remodel
Richland’s only Dutch Bros Coffee currently is closed for a complete interior remodel, with plans to re-open on Sept. 26. “We’re gutting it and starting over inside,” said Brad Barnes, who owns the Richland coffee stand and both Dutch Bros. in Pasco. “We are setting up the stand for something that makes sense,” Barnes said.…
Second Foodies restaurant coming to Richland’s Parkway
The Wilson family has expanded from a single floating food counter aboard a pontoon on the Columbia River to three full-service restaurants in Kennewick and Richland. Their third restaurant, called Foodies too, is expected to open before Christmas in Richland’s The Parkway, occupying the space once home to Paper Street Brewing Co. Terry and Joanna…
Builders face rising home permit fees
Tri-City home building permits remain a fraction of the cost they are in larger cities like Seattle and Portland, but the final price tag still has seen steady increases in recent years across Pasco, Kennewick and now Richland. “My counterparts in other regions would probably laugh at our fees. In the Portland market, the fees…
Sexual harassment prevention training continues in wake of #MeToo movement
Nearly a year into the #MeToo movement, the awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace has prompted many large and small business owners to take a closer look at their own policies and procedures. John Heaton, president of Pay Plus Benefits in Kennewick, believes there’s been cyclical attention to the issue over the years. “This…
New tamale restaurant to open in Richland Parkway
The Food Network taught Leticia Whitten how to cook and even some English. “She watched a lot of Martha Stewart. Well, until (Stewart) got in trouble,” joked Leticia’s husband, Mark Whitten. As a Mexican immigrant, Leticia built her skills in the kitchen while raising three daughters, eventually perfecting her recipes for tamales. She began selling…
M is for ‘makeover’ at longtime Richland hotel
A Richland mainstay for more than 40 years, the M Hotel will soon offer guests refurbished rooms when its first phase of renovations are completed at the end of this month. This stage of work includes the hotel’s original 120 rooms surrounding the large, indoor pool at the property on 1515 George Washington Way. Due…
Bright Now! Dental bringing two offices to Tri-Cities
Bright Now! Dental is bringing the first of its two Tri-City clinics to Kennewick by the end of October. The practice is targeting an Oct. 29 opening date after representatives say they’ve fielded repeated requests to open in the region. “We’ve been asked by a lot of our union clientele to go into the Tri-Cities…
Pasco works to identify historic African American sites
The city of Pasco is working quickly to identify historic African American buildings and locations of significance in the community before they’re lost to city growth. “It just seemed like it was prime time, if you will, to capitalize on this opportunity and preserve the history of this community,” said Tanya Bowers, project manager for…
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