People's Choice Awards 2013

The Tri-City Herald’s

BEST Outdoor Dining

BEST Day Spa

PEOPLE’s

CHOICE Awards 2013 BEST Taco Truck

BEST Microbr ew

BEST r Jewele

BEST Sports Bar

You VOTED, now see who won!

BEST Dentist

People’s Choice

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People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

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People’s Choice

BUNCH-FINNIGAN Appliance & Home Theater 9 E COLUMBIA DRIVE, KENN • 586-1074

R E F R I G I R AT I O N • C O O K I N G & C L E A N U P • L A U N D RY • E L E C T R O N I C S •

“Thanks a BUNCH!” Tri-Cities for 68 Years And Your Continued Trust & Business!

ALWAYS:

go2bunch.com

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• JENN-AIR• BOSCH • SUB-ZERO • WHIRLPOOL • SAMSUNG • A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

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People’s Choice

It’s time for the stars to shine through, as picked by you – Tri-City Herald readers.

Tri- City Herald

All the winners of our first annual People’s Choice Awards are here.

Your bests, your favorites; the consensus vote winners from our online balloting.

We’ve published this edition as a record to all that is good about the places, people and things that positively define the Tri-Cities – as voted on by you.

And we’ve also featured six “Ballot Busters”; the top vote-getters across all categories.

Watch for the official seal of People’s Choice winners on display in their businesses.

Enjoy!

Entertainment Golf Course .......................................................................................................................6 Movie Theater..................................................................................................................6 Nightclub...........................................................................................................................6

Food & Beverage

Tri-City Herald file 4

Bakery ...............................................................................................................................8 Breakfast ........................................................................................................................ 10 Chinese ........................................................................................................................... 10 Coffee ...............................................................................................................................12 Family Restaurant ........................................................................................................13 Fine Dining .....................................................................................................................13 Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt ...........................................................................................13 Italian ............................................................................................................................. 14 Mexican ......................................................................................................................... 14 Microbrewery .............................................................................................................. 14 Outdoor Dining............................................................................................................ 15 Pizza .............................................................................................................................. 15 Seafood ......................................................................................................................... 15 People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

People’s Choice

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Sports Bar ............................................................16 Steakhouse ...........................................................18 Taco Truck ...........................................................18 Wine Tasting Room ............................................19

Goods Sporting Goods ...................................................20 Furniture .............................................................20 Hardware ..............................................................21 Jewelers ...............................................................22 Appliance Store ..................................................22 Auto Dealer .........................................................23 Bicycle Shop ........................................................23

Health & Beauty Barber Shop ....................................................... 24 Dental Clinic ....................................................... 24 Hair Salon ........................................................... 26 Health & Fitness Choice .................................. 26 Pharmacy ............................................................ 28 Day Spa ............................................................... 28 Hospital ............................................................................................................... 31

Local Favorites News Anchor......................................................................................................32 Park ......................................................................................................................32 Radio Personality ..............................................................................................32 Sportscaster .......................................................................................................32 Weather Forecaster ..........................................................................................34 Church .................................................................................................................34 Company to work for ........................................................................................34

Services Auto Service .......................................................................................................36 Flooring Retailer ...............................................................................................36 Florist ..................................................................................................................37 Home Builder .....................................................................................................37 Photographer .....................................................................................................38 Real Estate Agency...........................................................................................38 Retirement Community ...................................................................................38 Veterinarian ...................................................................................................... 40 Credit Union ...................................................................................................... 40

Tri-City Herald

Thank you Tri-Cities and Mid-Columbia for choosing

Canyon Lakes

as your favorite golf course.

Canyon Lakes is rated 4 1/2 Stars by Golf Digest making it the highest rated golf course in the Tri-Cities and shares the highest ranking in Washington State!

Start your Monthly Membership at any time for only $100 and we will prorate the current month!

Buy your 2013 V.I.P. Membership for only $325!

New 2013 Twilight Membership for only $495!

(Get unlimited play during twilight hours 7 days per week)

Twilight Golf $32 with Cart $39 Everyday 3pm & Later Senior’s Tuesday (50 & over) 50% OFF all day Tuesday until Twilight

www.canyonlakesgolfcourse.com

Call 582-3736

Why play one of the rest, when you can play the best!

A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

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ENTERTAINMENT

People’s Choice

Golf Course

#3

#3

#1

Meadow Springs Country Club

Regal Cinemas

700 Country Club Road, Richland 509-627-2234

1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick; 509-783-5008

meadowspringscc.com

regmovies.com

Movie Theater

Nightclub

#1

#1

Fairchild Cinemas

Jokers Nightclub

5020 Convention Dr., Pasco 509-544-8500

624 Wellsian Way, Richland 509-943-1173

fairchildcinemas.com

jokersrichland.com

Canyon Lakes Golf Course 3700 Canyon Lakes Dr., Kennewick 509-582-3736 canyonlakesgolfcourse.com You can’t get much greener than the 150 acres at Canyon Lakes Golf Course. Built in Pasco in 1981, this locally owned and operated golf course was designed by John Steidel, a golf course architect who lives in the Tri-Cities.

At Canyon Lakes, each hole has its own unique distinction. The par-3 12th hole at Canyon Lakes continues to feature what is billed as the largest green in the Pacific Northwest. “It’s a 12,000-square-foot thing of beauty,” said Mike Lundgren, general manager and majority owner at Canyon Lakes. Hole No. 9 was selected as one of the Northwest’s “Dream 18 Holes,” according to Canyon Lakes’ website.

Canyon Lakes Golf Course also received distinction when Northwest Travel Magazine selected the Kennewick golf course as “18 of the best in the Pacific Northwest.”

“Canyon Lakes is known for its large, fast greens,” said Lundgren. The golfers who play there do about 60,000 rounds total per year.

Canyon Lakes has five sets of tees and is the only golf course in the Tri-City area that is more than 7,000 yards from the back tees.

Golfers do not have to worry about getting lost in so much acreage, as Canyon Lakes equips all its golf cars with GPS. Golfers can easily get from the 18 Hole Championship Golf Course, to the 18 Hole Putting Course, Driving Range, Chipping Area or Practice Green.

The golf course offers 22 different memberships, including yearly, monthly, V.I.P. and twilight memberships. It also offers specials, such as Senior Tuesdays, where everyone over 50 gets half off. It also has twilight rates starting at 3 p.m. every day. There are eight PGA golf professionals affiliated with Canyon Lakes.

See story on page 7.

#2

Carmike 12 1331 N. Center Pkwy., Kennewick 509-374-0356 carmike.com

If you’re looking for nightlife and entertainment, Jokers Nightclub fits the bill.

The spacious Comedy Club and dance venue at 624 Wellsian Way in Richland, near Atomic Bowl, can hold up to 900 guests. The business opened as a small bowling center in 1957. A later remodel added a large lounge space, which serves as a both a comedy venue and nightclub.

#2

Columbia Point Golf Course 225 Columbia Point Dr., Richland 509-946-0710 playcolumbiapoint.com 6

Canyon Lakes Golf Course

Tri-City Herald file People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

People’s Choice “Jokers is the No. 1 nightclub in the Tri-Cities according to sales and size,” said Max Faulkner, general manager for both Atomic Bowl and Jokers Nightclub and Comedy Club. “It’s easy to get to, has an attractive exterior, and a great array of events,” he said. The nightclub offers Girls’ Night Out DJ dancing on Thursdays, Live Music on Fridays and Salsa Nights on Saturday. They all follow immediately after the Jokers Comedy Club shows.

Comedy shows cost $10 and up. Thursday night top 40s DJ is free, Friday Night Live varies from free to $20, and Salsa Saturday

is $7. Joker’s Nightclub features its signature 58-ounce Vegas Yard for $20. Patrons must be 21 or older, but they have the occasional 18-plus nights. Comedy starts at 8:30 p.m. and the nightclub starts at 10 p.m.

#2

#3 Jack Didley’s 109 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick 509-585-5665

Branding Iron

jackdidleys.com

213 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick 509-586-9292 brandingironnightclub.com

BALLOT BUSTER Best Movie Theater

Fairchild Cinemas, voted best movie theater, debuted its $6 million, 12-screen theater in 2007 and Tri-Citians recently voted it the most favored movie house in town. The Fairchild is not your run-of-the-mill movie complex.

The concession stand alone offers far from the traditional fare, such as milkshakes, hard ice cream, pizza, espresso and cheesecake. Moviegoers also serve themselves by pouring their own beverages and picking out other snacks much like at a convenience store, then paying for it at the cashier’s station.

The 1,800-seat complex, all with digitally enhanced screens, sits behind Yoke’s Fresh Market off Road 68 and Interstate 182 in Pasco. Jeff and Lisa Fairchild make a point of keeping their prices a little lower than other theaters in town. “Our ticket prices are lower and so is the food we serve in our snack bar,” Lisa Fairchild said. “It’s important to us that we make it affordable for big families to go to the movies.” No one gets that more than Lisa Fairchild, who was raised in a family of 12 children. “I understand how important it is to stay within a budget when you have a large family,” she said. “And taking that big family to the movies can get spendy, which is why we try to keep our prices low.”

Fairchild Cinema ticket prices range from $7 for ages 2-11 and 60+ for matinees and evening showings. Tickets for ages 12-59 are $7 for matinees and $9.50 for evening showings. The Fairchild also allows 3-D glasses, purchased for $1, to be reused at all other 3-D movies.

Another reason the Fairchild Cinema is the most popular with Tri-City movie lovers could be the foam-block construction, which enhances the digital sound system giving the movie buff an ear-pleasing experience without being too loud. The seats also are a little larger than other theaters and comfortable for viewing.

Fairchild Cinemas in Pasco

A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

Tri-City Herald

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice

Bakery

#1 Viera’s Bakery 430 W. Lewis St., Pasco 6411 Burden Blvd., Pasco 509-546-9726 Viera’s Bakery is more than just a business selling bread and baked goods. The panaderia sells the taste of home. “We have people come all the way from Walla Walla and Yakima Valley to try our food,” said Eulogio Zarate, baker at Viera’s Bakery and the owner’s son-in-law.

Manuel Viera, the owner, opened his first location in downtown Pasco in 2004. Located at South Fourth Avenue and East Lewis Street, he offers a variety of breads, pastries and doughnuts. People hungry for the taste of traditional Mexican pastries can find favorites such as the Concha, a shell-shaped sweet bread, and Bolillo, a type of baguette with cream cheese and jalapeño. People also love to buy tres

leches — white bread soaked in three types of milk and whipped cream served in a cup.

Viera’s Bakery is very much a family-run business. Viera’s wife, three daughters and two sons are all involved in the baking and day-today operations. Viera worked for 25 years at Castilleja Bakery in downtown Pasco before he seized the opportunity to open his own business. Four years later, a second location was opened off Road 68 in west Pasco. “We already had our reputation and people came in all the time asking when we would open one there,” Zarate said.

The topic of opening up another location comes up every six months, he said.

Customers who make the commute to savor many of Viera’s many sweet breads and pastries are constantly suggesting locations closer to where they live. They already have the equipment. Now it’s just a matter of finding the right location. Viera’s Bakery also does birthday cakes and cakes for other special occasions.

Michael D. Breier, DMD, PC PC Sean F. Simper, DDS

Best Be B est est st Dentist Dent D De ent ent ntis tis ist ist

#2 Frost Me Sweet Bakery & Bistro 710 The Pkwy, Richland 509-420-4704 frostmesweet.com

#3 The Spudnut Shop 228 Williams Blvd., Richland 509-943-3000 thespudnutshop.com

"Excellent service!!! It is so nice to have the little extras like the paraffin hand treatment and the heated neck wrap. Not only did I get my teeth cleaned, I also walked out very relaxed and rested – that’s so different from how I usually feel when I leave a dentist's office. It is very impressive during these times of lack luster customer service to see a company which actually puts a high priority on treating their clients as if each is a VIP." !!!!!

by N. Perrie (July 26, 2012) "I love this place. The special attention and great care are amazing.

I wouldn’t go anywhere else." !!!!!

by B (June 19, 2012) "Thank you for a wonderful dental appointment. The spa like treatment put me at ease. I appreciate the time the dentist spent with me and made sure I understood my dental needs." !!!!

by Anonymous (June 26, 2012)

~ $99 ~

NEW PATIENT EXAM & X-RAYS

396-6936 8

2469 Queensgate Dr., Richland • www.LifetimeDentalCareTriCities.com People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

People’s Choice

A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice

Breakfast

#1 Magill’s 3214 Road 68, Pasco; 547-6448 1340 Jadwin Ave., Richland; 713-7111 magillsrestaurants.com The secret recipe that makes Magill’s restaurant special is a heaping helping of good, affordable food with a side of down-home comfort, seasoned with friendly service and a dash of family tradition.

Husband and wife Darren Martin and Sheila Bentley started the Pasco restaurant five years ago as a last hurrah when Martin’s brother was diagnosed with cancer. The restaurant business was in their blood, with assorted family members having run eateries in the Mid-Columbia, and the two brothers always had wanted to run one together.

They called it Magill’s after their mother’s maiden name, and the name now has become synonymous with hearty comfort food served up with a unique flair, such as the breakfast mac ‘n cheese loaded with ham, bacon, sausage and Cougar Gold cheese sauce.

“We serve the only breakfast mac ‘n cheese in the Tri-Cities,” Bentley said.

Other breakfast favorites include the chicken fried steak smothered in sausage gravy and, for those who like some spice in the morning, the chorizo breakfast burger torta, which pairs a caliente grilled chorizo sausage patty with cheese and an over-easy egg between a buttered and toasted ciabatta roll.

They serve up the sandwich with potatoes.

Bentley said it’s the quality of the food that keeps customers coming back time and again.

“This is not your standard diner breakfast.

We care a lot about the flavors,” she said.

They also operate Magill’s @ the Uptown in Richland in the Uptown Shopping Center off Jadwin Avenue.

#2

Sterling’s Famous Steak Seafood & Salad Bar 3200 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-736-1588 890 George Washington Way, Richland 509-943-1588 2500 Queensgate Dr., Richland 509-628-2414

#3

Sage Port Grille 1633 Columbia Park Trail, Richland 509-783-9105

Chinese

#1 Double Dragon 3107 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-737-8833 Good food, large portions and low prices.

That’s what you’ll find at Double Dragon Chinese Restaurant in Kennewick, said Shawna Brown, the restaurant’s head waitress. Lisa and Ron Then came nearly 30 years ago from Canton province in China with a dream to open up their own restaurant.

Ron was working as a chef at another Chinese restaurant in Bend, Ore., when he decided it was time to fulfill the dream. In 1993 they opened for business in Hermiston.

A couple of years later, Rite Aid decided to purchase the building they were located in, so they packed their bags and decided to open Double Dragon in Kennewick. “It’s just very good fast food and people are really attracted to the large portions,” Brown said. “One plate can be enough for two. Everything is made fresh to order, it’s not just sitting back there.”

Favorites include Almond Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken and the Kung Pao Chicken.

Double Dragon offers a weekday two-item lunch special for $4.25, as well as a small selection of beer and wine. The restaurant can seat 160 people. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday.

#2

Shang Hai 3013 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-783-8998

#3 P.F. Changs 8108 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick 509-735-3270 Magill’s restaurants serve down-home food in Pasco and Richland.

10

pfchangs.com Tri-City Herald file People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

People’s Choice

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Thank You for voting for

Sterlings.

Stop in when you ’re near by.

3 locations to serve you!

3200 W. Clearwater 890 George Washington Way 2500 Queensgate

From all of us at Viera’s Bakery, we would like to say “Thank you Tri-Cities for your continued support.”

We are very humbled to receive this award and we know this wouldn’t be possible without our loyal customers.

Thank you.

For those who haven’t been in, we welcome you and hope to see you soon at either of our locations.

430 W Lewis St, Pasco • (509) 546-9726 or 6411 Burden Blvd, Pasco • (509) 545-4043 A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

11

FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice

BALLOT BUSTER

Best Fine Dining, Best Outdoor Dining, Best Seafood Restaurant Fresh. Local. Northwest. The family of Anthony’s Restaurants has sought to meet these standards since the first one opened in Bellevue in 1969. It’s a tradition that continues today, including at Anthony’s at Columbia Point in Richland. Whether it’s the sustainable salmon from Alaska, steaks from a Central Washington ranch or the selection of Mid-Columbia wines, Anthony’s is the right place to go for any occasion. “We want to provide the best possible experience for anyone, whether it’s celebrating a friend’s birthday, closing a business deal or going out on a first date,” said Mike Tvedt, general manager in Richland.

The restaurant at Columbia Point opened in September 2004, and nearly every seat inside, from the booths to the bar, commands a view of the marina and the Columbia River with large windows flooding the space with natural light. And don’t forget the restaurant’s adjacent deck, which fills up on any day it’s open, Tvedt said. Seafood is the restaurant’s specialty, and Chef Carlos Cortez and his staff seek to prepare it simply and in a classic Northwest style. To control quality, Anthony’s operates its own wholesale seafood company. Dishes made with wild salmon are among the restaurant’s most popular and highlight the importance of the company’s focus on sustainable fishing of wild stocks. “It’s better tasting,” Tvedt said. “Quality is a big issue.”

Quality is equally important for the rest o of the restaurant’s menu. Double R Ranch o of Toppenish provides cuts of beef, and p produce is secured from local growers w whenever possible, such as asparagus ffrom Middleton Farms in Pasco. Anthony’s h has been a big supporter of Washington w wines, and its restaurants continue that ttradition. Prosser’s Thurston Wolfe’s PGV ((Pinot Gris & Viognier) wine is the top w wine at the Richland restaurant, though n numerous others are also available. Wines ffrom Barnard Griffin will be featured into e early summer to celebrate the Richland w winery’s 30th anniversary. “We have no C California wines on our wine list,” Tvedt ssaid. “That is by design.” But atmosphere a and menu aren’t the only reasons people vvisit the restaurant and keep coming back.

M Many of the staff have been there since tthe doors opened, cultivating consistency a as well as quality meals and service. Tvedt ssaid a number of regular customers will call a ahead to make sure their favorite server is w working before making a reservation. “To m me, that beats everything,” he said. “We’ve b built relations.”

Anthony’s in Richland

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Tri-City Herald file

Coffee

#1 Starbucks See website for Tri-City locations. starbucks.com Consistency, an inviting atmosphere and good service have always been the goals of the Starbucks Coffee Co. And the nine locations the global coffee shop chain maintains in the Tri-Cities are striving to meet them each day.

The company’s coffee is its premier offering, with more than 30 varieties available. Then there’s the various other beverages prepared fresh for each customer, including teas, espresso drinks and smoothies. Pastries, sandwiches, salads, fruit cups and other treats complete its menu.

Comfortable and inviting shops provide a place for customers to enjoy their drink or snack as well as meeting with others — be it for business or pleasure. Those on the go can be on their way quickly after stopping through the drive-through window available at most stores.

And regulars already know about the friendly and genuine service provided by each shop’s baristas who handcraft each drink.

“We love being part of people’s daily routines and look forward to continuing to serve and be part of the community,” said a company spokesperson.

#2

Dutch Bros. Coffee See website for Tri-City locations. dutchbros.com

#3 Roasters Coffee 496 George Washington Way, Richland 509-492-0212 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco; 509-492-0212 2000 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick; 509-492-0212 roasterscoffee.net

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice

Family Restaurant

#3

#1

Magill’s

Red Robin 1021 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick; 509-736-6008 redrobin.com Since the first Red Robin restaurant was founded in Seattle more than 40 years ago, kids have been welcome. “We call them our valuables,” said Shari Ivey, manager of the Kennewick Red Robin. “They are potential future team members and guests.

“The restaurant maintains a family-friendly atmosphere, whether it’s helping a family get to a movie or soccer game on time, or helping them relax and celebrate a special occasion,” she said.

Birthday celebrations are popular at the restaurant, with a birthday sundae and a serenade by the staff to make the customer, whether child or adult, feel special. The goal is to give “unbridled” service, Ivey said.

That may be serving a gluten-free meal from the allergen menu or modifying food, if the product to do that is available in the kitchen. Once a year the Kennewick Police Department takes over the restaurant for the Tip-a-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics.

Customers keep coming back for the burgers and bottomless steak fries — which the restaurant is known for. But the menu has plenty of other options, including salads, to make sure everyone in the family finds what they want, Ivey said. She’s worked at Red Robin in the Tri-Cities for 26 years, which is not just a family-friendly place to eat, but a family-friendly place to work. The children of people she has worked with at the restaurant are now her employees.

#2

Sterling’s Famous Steak Seafood & Salad Bar 3200 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-736-1588 890 George Washington Way, Richland 509-943-1588 2500 Queensgate Dr., Richland 509-628-2414 A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

3214 Road 68, Pasco; 509-547-6448 1340 Jadwin Ave., Richland; 713-7111 magillsrestaurants.com

Fine Dining

#1 Anthony’s 550 Columbia Point Dr., Richland 509-946-3474 anthonys.com See story on page 12.

#2

Cedars Restaurant & Lounge 355 Clover Island Dr., Kennewick 509-582-2143 cedarsrest.com

#3 Bonefish Grill 133 W. Gage Blvd., Richland 509-628-9296 bonefishgrill.com

Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt

#1 My FroYo 4803 Clemente Lane, Suite B, off Road 68, Pasco; 509-547-3300 Columbia Center mall, Kennewick 509-735-3444 2500 W. Kennewick Ave.; Kennewick 509-737-0777 myfroyo.com Crystal and Scott Carroll brought MyFroYo to the Tri-Cities almost four years ago and have opened a new store every year since. Their newest

location is in design now and will open at the end of June at Queensgate Drive in Richland.

MyFroYo is a family business dedicated to offering a healthy alternative to ice cream while creating a fun family atmosphere. It was one of the first self-serve frozen yogurt stores in the Northwest and now has more than 10,000 Facebook fans.

“We have some very excited followers,” Scott Carroll said. Each store has more than 50 toppings, which are pretty much the same from store to store, but the yogurt selection changes every week. Devoted customers will get online to see which store has their favorite flavor.

All stores try to carry something for everyone, including at least one non-dairy sorbet and one or two no-sugar-added flavors.

As a way of giving back to the community, the Kennewick store offers a party room that can be scheduled at no cost. People use it for everything from birthday parties to Bible study — and you’re even welcome to the free samples. The room has a 60-inch flat screen TV and is wired for sound.

All the stores offer a digital reward card.

Every time you make a purchase, a reward is posted to your card. Some people use it as a discount on their next purchase and some save up until they can bring the whole family in for a freebie. “Like” them on Facebook to see what all the excitement is about.

#2

Finnegan Frost 696 Gage Blvd., Richland 509-572-2477 finneganfrost.com

#3 Baskin Robbins 2803 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-783-9279 2307 W. Court St., Pasco 509-542-1931 140 Gage Blvd. #205, Richland 509-374-4310 890 Stevens Dr., Richland 509-943-3231 baskinrobbins.com

Crystal and Scott Carroll 13

FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice

Italian

#3

#1

Carmine’s Italian Restaurant

Casa Mia Italian Restaurant 2541 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick 509-582-0440 607 George Washington Way, Richland 509-946-0500 casamiarestaurants.com Authentic Italian food in the desert? Casa Mia has you covered, from award-winning pizzas to spaghetti to chicken parmigiana.

And if pasta isn’t on your diet plan, its spicy chicken Caesar salad is a tasty option.

Dave Brazzell Dave and Glenda Brazzell opened the Kennewick Casa Mia in July 1992, and added the Richland restaurant in September 1995. “My uncle owned a franchise at the time in Lacey,” Dave Brazzell said. “At the time, we were farming and we decided to give it a try. “The first Casa Mia Restaurant was opened in a storefront space in Hoquiam in 1952 by Phil Bellofatto, an Italian-American who grew up in an apartment above one of the original Italian restaurants and pizzerias in New York.

There are seven Casa Mia Restaurants scattered across Washington. The Tri-City Casa Mias are family friendly and offer outdoor seating (weather permitting). Their all-you-can eat spaghetti nights (SundayThursday) are very popular. “We all do that,” Dave Brazzell said of the spaghetti nights. “We wanted to bring people in on slower days.”

To this day, the menu at Casa Mia is centered on Bellofatto’s recipes, with everything still made the old-fashioned way.

“Our sauces cook for six hours each day, we make our pizza dough every day and we grate all of our mozzarella for salads each day,” Dave Brazzell said. Casa Mia recently has expanded its menu to include more salads, appetizers, sandwiches and gluten-free items.

#2

Olive Garden 1420 N. Louisiana St., Kennewick 509-374-3500 olivegarden.com 14

525 W. 1st Ave., Kennewick 509-396-7890 carmineskennewick.com

Mexican

#1 Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

that someone usually is standing at the salsa bar with a tortilla press, cooking them.

Isidro Ortiz tries very hard to give his customers and his employees a great experience. “I feel so blessed,” he said. “It’s been a great journey.”

#2

Inca Mexican Restaurant 3600 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick; 735-6098 1813 Leslie Road, Richland; 628-1070

5210 N. Road 68, Pasco; 509-543-6884

incamexican.com

3911 W. 27th Ave. # 103, Kennewick 509-586-4456

#3

1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd.

Kennewick; 509-374-1111 fiestarestaurant.com The most popular item on Fiesta Mexican Restaurant’s menu is the skirt steak carne asada.

Every now and then the owner tries to pare Isidro Ortiz and Teresa Ortiz down the menu or pull off other items. It’s a huge task because everything sells well. “We have so many popular dishes,” said Isidro Ortiz, one of the owners.

You can’t have a Mexican restaurant without burritos and enchiladas, but Fiesta’s menu offers much more.

Several of the items, like the chili verde and the pork carnitas, are recipes Ortiz’s mother has created based on foods from Michoacán, Mexico.

Isidro and Teresa Ortiz, opened their first Fiesta restaurant in downtown Pasco in 2001. They now have restaurants at Columbia Center mall in Kennewick, on Road 68 in Pasco, and on 27th Avenue in Kennewick.

They are opening a fourth restaurant this summer on Gage Boulevard where Island Casino is now. Although they didn’t coin the term “fresh mex,” one of the big draws for Fiesta is its fresh ingredients and menu choices. “We serve only fresh food. Nothing processed,” Isidro Ortiz said.

Another big attraction is the salsa bar with fresh homemade tortillas. They’re so fresh

Azteca Mexican Restaurant 556 Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick

735-6661

2807 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick 735-7231 aztecamex.com

Microbrewery

#1 Ice Harbor Brewing Company 206 N. Benton St., Kennewick 509-582-5340 350 Clover Island Dr., Kennewick 509-586-3181 iceharbor.com See story on page 16.

#2

Atomic Ale Brewpub & Eatery 1015 Lee Blvd., Richland; 509-946-5465 atomicalebrewpub.com

#3 White Bluffs Brewing 2000 Logston Blvd. #126, Richland 509-554-7059 whitebluffsbrewing.com People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice

Outdoor Dining

Pizza

Seafood

#1

#1

#1

Anthony’s

Brick House Pizza

Anthony’s at Columbia Point

550 Columbia Point Dr., Richland 509-946-3474

3791 W. Van Giesen St., West Richland

550 Columbia Point Dr., Richland 509-946-3474

anthonys.com See story on page 12.

#2

Cedars Restaurant & Lounge 355 Clover Island Dr., Kennewick 509-582-2143 cedarsrest.com

#3 Tagaris Winery 844 Tulip Lane, Richland 509-628-1619 tagariswines.com

A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

509-967-3733

#2 Hubby’s Pizza

anthonys.com See story on page 12.

346 W. Columbia Dr., Kennewick 509-586-2340 hubbyspizza.com

#3 Round Table Pizza 3300 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick; 509-783-2204 roundtablepizza.com Tri-City Herald

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice

#2

When Chuck Fisher was interviewing for a cook and dishwasher job at Jack-sons in Kennewick 14 years ago, he told then-owners Chuck Frenzel and Ken Martin that if he got bored he would buy the place in 10 years.

Chuck Fisher It took Fisher 11 years to follow through on his promise, buying the Richland store three years ago. He bought the Kennewick store a year and a half ago.

He bought both to help keep the tradition of the company, which celebrates its 30-year anniversary in November, alive. And while the Kennewick store is now closed, the Jack-sons name lives on at the Richland location. Fisher, who lives in Richland and managed a Sizzler and an apartment complex before deciding he wanted to work at Jack-sons, believes in dreaming big — not only for himself, but also for his employees.

“I’m just one of those people that believes hard work, honesty and due diligence will always pay off,” Fisher said. “I believe that anyone is capable of doing anything they

Bonefish Grill 133 W. Gage Blvd., Richland 509-628-9296 bonefishgrill.com

#3 Red Lobster 1120 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick; 509-735-1190 redlobster.com

Sports Bar

#1 Jack-sons 99 Lee Blvd., Richland; 509-946-8118 richlandjacksons.com

desire as long as they set a course.” That’s apparent at Jack-sons, where management introduced hot wings to the Tri-Cities many years ago. When Fisher took over, he told his kitchen he wanted to produce a ton of wings a month. It took a few years, but they finally met that goal, and now they have some of the best wings in the area. “This is proof that anyone can do whatever they want,” Fisher said. “I encourage my employees to have goals and to have dreams

#2

Sports Page Bar & Grill 6 S. Cascade St., Kennewick 509-585-0590

#3 Uncle Sam’s Saloon 8378 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick 509-783-8942 unclesamssaloon.com

BALLOT BUSTER Best Microbrewery

Mike Hall said he and Bill Jaquish had a specific goal in mind when they founded Ice Harbor Brewing Company in 1996.

“We had imagined being a packaging microbrewery,” Hall said. Unfortunately, that’s a difficult task for any small brewer to achieve. And that’s why Ice Harbor has established a downtown Kennewick pub along with a sit-down restaurant on nearby Clover Island, offering food and a place to watch a football game, to help sustain the business. But Hall said it’s still all about the beer, from the Tangerine Hefeweizen and Columbia Kölsch, to the seasonal ESB and IPA. Between nine to 10 beers are on tap at the pub and the Clover Island restaurant at any time of the year. The bulk of those are the brewery’s regular offerings, such as the Kölsch, at one time Ice Harbor’s flagship brew, or the sweeter-tasting and popular Red Ale. But the seasonals have their dedicated followers as well. Lighthouse 16

Lager is a light beer that took gold at the North American Beer Awards, beating out Michelob. And Ice Harbor’s IPA, first brewed on Sept. 11, 2001, is one of the brewery’s most popular beers. “It can compete with any IPA that’s out there,” Hall said.

Despite Ice Harbor’s increasing distribution, including a recent new deal that will send kegs to bars in Portland, the operation is still small. A handful of assistant brewers work with head brewer Russ Corey to start a batch each day.

Bottling is done in batches of a couple hundred bottles with a portable bottling machine designed by the same company which sold them the brewery that started it all in the mid-1990s. Hall said operating a pub and restaurant in conjunction with the brewery has presented its challenges. And in the past, he and his partner took second jobs to support the business they loved. But he’s happy with how everything has ended up. “It’s the charm of the place,” he said

one recent afternoon, looking around the pub and those enjoying a beer after work.

Ice Harbor Brewing Company

Tri-City Herald file

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

People’s Choice

A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice

Steakhouse

#1 Texas Roadhouse 845 N. Columbia Center Blvd. #C, Kennewick; 509-783-1288 texasroadhouse.com Peanut shells. That’s the first thing you notice when you enter Texas Roadhouse. They’re scattered all over the floor. Grab a handful and eat them while you wait to be seated.

“You can throw them anywhere,” said Mike Freelund, one of the managers at the Texas Roadhouse in Kennewick.

The restaurant chain opened its first outlet in Clarksville, Ind., and has expanded to over 300 restaurants in 40 states across the U.S. The Kennewick restaurant is the first in Washington.

“It was definitely a great spot to open a location, our opening was highly anticipated,” said Freelund. They received 1,900 job applications for about 127 positions in the first month before their opening in 2011.

“People were very excited,” said Freelund, “it’s just a very fun and casual place to go out and eat.” Its atmosphere aims to be family friendly with a Western theme. The servers line dance for customers every half hour.

Texas Roadhouse, which is known for its “fall-off-the-bone” baby back ribs and its handcut steaks, also likes to emphasize that all their side dishes and dressings are made from scratch.

“It’s just really good home cooking,” Freelund said. The wait times can vary during the weekdays, usually patrons can expect to be seated in less than 10 minutes.

But on Saturdays, the restaurant’s busiest day, wait times can take up to an hour. They offer “call-ahead seating” so you can call an hour to an hour and a half ahead to ensure your placement on the waiting list before you arrive.

#2

Outback Steakhouse 6819 W. Canal Dr., Kennewick 509-735-9304 outback.com

#3 TC Prime Steak 1408 N. Louisiana St., Kennewick 509-619-0700

Taco Truck

#1 Tony’s Tacos 3809 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-735-2189 Kennewick taco truck, Tony’s Tacos, is a local favorite. “See you later boss,” yells Ruvim Melnik to Tony Patiño, the owner of Tony’s Tacos, as he walks away from the food truck. The Chiawana High School senior has been coming Tony Patiño here since he was a little boy. He brings a couple of his friends each time. He always gets a torta and two tacos.

But this time he tried the quesadilla. “It never disappoints,” he said. “He is best taco truck

We Have a Large Selection of Lazy Boy Over 80 Styles to Choose From!

Thank you for your votes!

18

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

FOOD & BEVERAGE

People’s Choice in town.” For Tony, most of the people who walk up to his taco truck on Clearwater in Kennewick are not customers, but friends.

Longtime friends, that is what he calls them. “I have known most of them for years,” he says, “I really have no words to explain the kind of support they show me. I feel really fortunate.”

He has been in the same spot for 15 years.

When Kennewick passed a law prohibiting food trucks from staying in one spot too long, his customers rallied. “They would come by and sign signatures,” he said. There were 3,800 signatures in all and 50 of his longtime friends and loyal customers went to the city to make sure that he stayed in that spot.

Tony, a native of Mexico, made it to the Tri-Cities by way of St. Louis, Mo., where he cooked Chinese food for 17 years. When he made it to the Tri-Cities in 1982 he began working for an Indian restaurant, but when that restaurant shut down he decided to open his own place. He knows the orders of many of his customers by heart. If people come to try his delicious tacos, burritos or quesadillas, they’ll keep on coming because of his welcoming and warm smile. “He’s just a nice guy,” said Lee Schwartz, who works for Energy Northwest, “you always see him smiling.”

His truck is open Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.

-11 p.m. and he stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

#2

El Fat Cat Grill 539 N. Edison St., Kennewick 509-546-1413

#3 Tacos Jalisco 603 E. 15th Ave., Kennewick

Wine Tasting Room

#1 J. Bookwalter Winery 894 Tulip Lane, Richland; 509-627-5000 bookwalterwines.com Bookwalter Winery remains a pioneer, even after 30 years in the Tri-Cities, says Marcella Henson. The Richland winery was the first A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

J. Bookwalter Winery’s tasting room.

to bring the feel of a bistro to its tasting room on Tulip Lane. Live music and light fare contribute to the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. “We try to treat our guests like they’re part of the Bookwalter family,” said Henson, the winery’s operations manager. And in keeping with the winery’s pioneer spirit, Bookwalter will roll out its own wine cocktails in the tasting room in April, bringing back the Riesling Mojito it has provided at past local events, plus a few others.

“We’ll do wine margaritas and that’s all I’ll tell,” Henson said. The winery, founded in 1983

by Jerry and Jean Bookwalter, still specializes in award-winning Bordeaux blends and other red wines from its estate vineyards. Henson said the past year has been spent transforming the tasting room into a restaurant. The winery now offers full lunch and dinner menus with ingredients from local farms.

And the innovation won’t stop there.

Henson said the winery’s owners are always looking for the next thing to make each visitor’s experience the most enjoyable. “The

Tri-City Herald file

creativity is great because there’s so much we can do and you never know what the next thing will be,” she said.

#2

Tagaris Winery 844 Tulip Lane, Richland 509-628-1619 tagariswines.com

#3 Milbrandt Vineyard 508 Cabernet Ct., Prosser; 509-788-0030 milbrandtvineyards.com

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GOODS

People’s Choice

Sporting Goods

#1 Big 5 Sporting Goods 75 Columbia Point Dr., Richland 509-942-1064 812 W. Vineyard Dr., Kennewick 509-586-3793 big5sportinggoods.com Founded in 1955, Big 5 Stores started with five locations in California specializing in World War II Army surplus items. As customers grew accustomed to the store’s weekly print advertisements in the L.A. Times, sporting goods were added to the inventory, eventually taking over in 1963 when the store changed its name to Big 5 Sporting Goods.

Big 5 Sporting Goods made its way into the Tri-Cities in 1993 after buying the former Herman’s World of Sporting Goods in Kennewick.

It was a move that brought Big 5 Sporting Goods into Eastern Washington with locations opening in Yakima and Spokane as well.

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In 2002, Big 5 Sporting Goods opened its second Tri-City location in Richland, marking the 30th store to open in Washington State.

Now, the chain boasts 414 locations in 12 western states and maintains a “core strategy of providing convenient shopping and low prices,” according to the company’s website.

#2

Sports Authority Sporting Goods 908 N. Colorado St., Kennewick 509-783-7801 sportsauthority.com

#3 Kennewick Ranch & Home 845 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick 509-737-1996 ranch-home.com

Furniture Walker’s Furniture 205 N. Morain St., Kennewick 509-374-9773 walkersfurniture.com The best quality product for the lowest price is what Walker’s Furniture in Kennewick advertises.

But what also keeps customers coming back is the friendly environment and good service.

Employees make sure to follow Pam Walker up with customers, keeping them updated on their order and making sure they are happy with their purchase, said store manager Jeffrey Siegal. If customers decide what they bought doesn’t suit their home up to 10 days after purchase, they can return it.

“We do everything we can to keep everyone happy,” Siegal said. Customers who make repeat purchases will see the same employees again and again because most employees stay with the store long-term.

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

GOODS

People’s Choice “Mr. Walker treats everyone like family,” Siegal said. Owners include Mark Walker and Pam Walker, the spokeswoman for Walker Furniture.

Walker Furniture began with a small store in Spokane and has grown to include other stores in the region, including in Walla Walla, Hermiston and Pendleton.

The company prides itself on remaining small enough to maintain a small store feel but with the benefits of big store discounts.

It carries such popular brands as La-Z-Boy, Flexsteel, Serta, Simmons and Temperpedic.

Those shopping for a new mattress can check out 52 different styles at the Kennewick store.

Grigg and vice president. “When something is going on, we can capitalize on it better than a big box store.”

If it’s snowing in the Tri-Cities, an employee will drive to the Ace Hardware warehouse in Moxee to make sure our stores don’t run out of show shovels, he said.

The stores also cater to the Tri-Cities’ interest in hunting and fishing, including stocking firearms and ammunition, and localizing the merchandise. If fish are biting on chartreuse and red lures, that’s what you’ll

find in the stores, Charlie Grigg said.

In addition, the Griggs buy from numerous vendors. If one is out of a popular item, the Griggs can check with other vendors until they find it.

That local knowledge and an ability to find great deals on close-out merchandise helped the two Ace Hardware stores in Richland set Ace Hardware records for grand opening weekend sales volume.

#2

Mor Furniture for Less 1430 Tapteal Dr., Richland 866-466-7435 morfurniture.com

#3 Ennis Fine Furniture Co. 1895 Fowler St., Richland 509-783-7471 ennisfurniture.com

Hardware Store

#1 Griggs Department Store/ Griggs Ace Hardware 801 W. Columbia St., Pasco 509-547-0566 1415 George Washington Way, Richland; 509-946-0881 103 Keene Road, Richland 509-628-3618 831 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick 509-619-0615 acehardware.com The family has been selling goods to Tri-City residents since Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Grigg moved from South Dakota to Pasco in 1938 and opened the Grigg family’s first store.

“The biggest thing is we’re local,” said Charlie Grigg, the grandson of Charles G. A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

Special to the Tri-City Herald

From left: CJ Grigg, Charlie Grigg, Charles F. Grigg and founder Charlie Grigg in framed picture. The Grigg family knows the Tri-Cities, and it shows in their four Ace Hardware stores in Pasco, Kennewick and Richland.

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GOODS

People’s Choice

#2

Appliance Store

Washington Hardware & Furniture

#1

6 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick; 509-582-2141

Fred’s Appliance 383 S. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick; 509-736-9595

washingtonhardwareandfurniture.com

#3

fredsappliances.com

Lowe’s Home Improvement 1020 N. Colorado St., Kennewick 509-736-1451 4520 N. Road 68, Pasco; 509-546-7600 lowes.com

Jewelers

#1 Touchstone Jewelers 5215 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-783-2405 touchstonejewelers.net The brother and sister team of Sharon McAlmond and Mark Welsh have more than 40 years of experience in the diamond business. But it’s more than their superior knowledge of diamonds that has made their store, Touchstone Jewelers, a Tri-City favorite.

The secret of their success is not just the quality of diamonds they sell, but their stalwart devotion to customer service.

“We truly appreciate our customers because they are so loyal,” McAlmond said.

“We work very hard to make them want to come back and shop with us. ” The Kennewick store has been in the Marineland Village shopping center for 25 years.

Welsh travels annually to Antwerp, Belgium, the largest diamond center in the world, to find the best cut diamonds. He also travels at least twice a year to the national gem shows looking for dazzling colored stones, like a sparkling zircon, a brilliant blue topaz, a pink tourmaline, a multifaceted sapphire, amethyst or ruby.

Another trick to pleasing their clientele is staying on top of the changing styles in jewelry as well as maintaining traditional styles, McAlmond says.

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Tri-City Herald

From left: Thien Van Le, Sharon McAlmond, Dennis Schoeregberg and Mark Welsh of Touchstone Jewelers.

Style changes all the time like from yellow to white gold, she explained.

“But there is always a need for the basic engagement ring because its traditional value remains important,” she says. “The real beauty of the product we work with is that diamonds are made by nature. “Stones and metals are all timeless and the pleasure and excitement they give people is also timeless. That’s the joy we see every day in this business.”

Touchstone also buys gold and silver from customers.

The store is open six days a week with its small staff, including goldsmith Thien Van Le, and sales associates Dennis Schoeneberg and Brandi Roediger.

“Our staff is outstanding and share the same belief as Mark and I do about customer service,” McAlmond said. “It’s why we’re still here.”

#2

Van’s Jewelry 3120 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick 509-783-9861

#3 Brothers Jewelers 430 George Washington Way, Richland 509-946-7989

When Fred’s Appliance was looking for a new market for further expansion in the Northwest, the Tri-Cities seemed like a good fit for the company.

“Obviously, the Tri-Cities from an economic standpoint has been fairly strong,” said Brett Steinauer, Kennewick store manager.

More than two years later, the 15,000-square-foot showroom provides customers the opportunity to browse more than 30 major name brands and take the merchandise home that same day. Steinauer says that is the advantage Fred’s Appliance has over its competitors.

“We stock a lot,” he said. “This environment allows people to see and compare a lot of products under one roof.”

The family-run appliance dealer has been in business since 1962 and is based in Spokane, with additional stores in the Spokane Valley, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, and Missoula, Mont.

The Tri-City store has about 18 employees covering sales, service, delivery, warehouse and building reps, Steinauer said.

They offer same-day or next-day delivery, and anything sold by Fred’s is serviceable by its technicians. Their household appliances range from refrigerators, freezers, ranges and ovens to washers, dryers and some professional outdoor barbecues.

“Business has been fantastic. I couldn’t be happier with how things have gone and with how the community has received us,” said Steinauer.

The Kennewick store is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

#2 Sears 455 Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick 509-736-5604 sears.com People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

GOODS

People’s Choice

#3

#3

Bunch-Finnigan Appliances

Archibald’s

9 E. Columbia Dr., Kennewick 509-586-1074

6902 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-737-1199

go2bunch.com

archibalds.net

Auto Dealer

Bicycle Shop

#1

#1

McCurley Integrity Dealerships

Scott’s Cycle & Sports

1325 Autoplex Way, Pasco, 888-803-2043;

704 S. Ely St., Kennewick 509-374-8424

billmccurley.com See story on page 25.

#2

Toyota of Tri-Cities 6321 W. Canal Dr., Kennewick 509-736-9900 toyotaoftricities.com

A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

scottscycleandsports.com Scott Cimmiyotti was 40, bored at his job and in need of a change when he recognized that “everybody loves bicycles.”

Even though he didn’t consider himself an avid cyclist then in 1993, Cimmiyotti saw the need for a bike shop and opened Scott’s Cycle and Sports in Hermiston. Eight years later, he

branched out to Kennewick because “that is where everybody shops.”

Now, Cimmiyotti shares the passion his customers have for riding and gets out on his road bike, cycling between 1,000 and 2,000 miles a year. “In the bicycle business, you have a customer base and I have a good following,” said Cimmiyotti, explaining that he’s the only shop in the Umatilla County area. “We’re family owned, and we just treat the customers well.

We try to do things right, otherwise you lose customers.”

Cimmiyotti’s two sons went away to college and came back to work in the stores — Brian in Kennewick at 704 S. Ely St., and Steven at 110 E. Highland Ave. in Hermiston. Besides himself, Cimmiyotti said he has five full-time employees and three part-time between the two locations.

Kennewick’s basic focus is bicycle sales and repairs, but Hermiston also offers skateboard sales and ski and snowboard rentals during the winter season. Bike sales typically pick Continued on page 24.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

People’s Choice Scott’s Cycle & Sports | Cont. from page 23.

up in March and run through October, which is about the same time Cimmiyotti says the service departments get caught up on all their repair jobs.

Scott’s offers quite a few bike lines, though Cimmiyotti admits it is harder to do retail now when competing with the internet. However, he said the shops have found their niche by selling across multiple generations everything from three-wheelers and BMX to mountain and road bikes. Once a year in spring, they organize the Scott’s to Scott’s free bike ride between the two locations.

Scott’s Cycle and Sports is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday in both locations. It is closed Sunday.

#2

Greenie’s 701 George Washington Way, Richland 509-946-3787 greenielife.com

#3 Markee’s Cycling Center 4723 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-783-2870

Barber Shop

#1 Fellas Hair 321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick 509-736-1590 4008 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick 509-582-4636 fellas-hair.com Chris Barber likes to refer to Fellas Hair as the big-box store of hair salons — they offer a highquality product at an affordable price.

That’s what Barber and his wife, Korey, felt the Tri-Cities needed when they went looking for a new business venture in 2007.

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Their concept of providing a masculine environment with no cheesy gimmicks was well accepted, so in 2010 the couple opened a second Kennewick location.

“Basically, what we value is value,” said Korey Barber, co-owner and general manager.

“We want the guys to come in and feel like they’re getting a service from a high-end salon, but not at that high-end price.”

The male-only salon has four stylists in each shop with customers ranging in age from 2 to 102, Barber said. Their main focus is grooming the hair that grows on the client’s noggin, but the salon also offers color camouflage for gray hair, highlights, eyebrow waxing and face and head shaves.

There is a putting green and an Xbox system in the waiting room of each shop, and the customer gets to control what is on the individual TV at each stylist’s station.

Barber said what may push their salon to the top is customer service, in part because she’s able to manage the salon while leaving the cutting to the employees. In 2011, she left her job of 15 years at the Tri-Cities Airport air traffic control tower to run the salon business and spend more time with their three kids, while Chris Barber travels a lot for his career.

In addition to making monetary contributions to local nonprofits, the salon encourages its employees to get involved in the community. Their work has included giving a free haircut once a month to women and children in the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission women’s shelter and holding a high school and college art contest to create a logo T-shirt.

“I just think it’s important to give back to the community, and I think it’s important to show my employees how good it feels to make a difference in peoples’ lives,” she said.

Both Fellas Hair locations in Kennewick are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The business is closed Sunday.

Walk-ins are available but appointments are suggested, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.

#2

Aaron’s Barbershop Korey Barber

240 Williams Blvd., Richland 509-851-2266

#3 Men Zone 4525 N. Road 68, Pasco 509-542-9663 menzone-style.com

Dental Clinic

#1 Lifetime Dental Care 2469 Queensgate Dr., Richland 509-628-1144 lifetimedentalcaretricities.com If Dr. Michael Breier has his way, no one will ever have a bad dentist story because of Lifetime Dental Care. The Richland dentist founded his company in June Dr. Michael 2001, moving to its Queensgate Breier Drive location five years ago. The company offers a spa-like setting, designed to make patients forget they are at the dentist.

“Unfortunately, there have been a lot of connotations with dentistry from previous generations,” Breier said. “They come in here and feel like they are at a spa more than a dentist office.”

Lifetime Dental offers massage chairs, aromatherapy, paraffin hand treatments, and personal televisions for each patient, as well as big windows showing off Badg er Mountain.

Breier’s staff, though, is what customers comment on the most. “If I listen to my patients, it is the highest level of service from my staff,” he said of what makes his clinic different than others. “They are very well trained to take care of them.”

Breier, a 1989 graduate of Kennewick High, worked for Spencer Jilek’s office in Pasco for a year before striking out on his own. Taking inspiration from companies like Disney, Ritz Carlton and Nordstrom, Breier, and his wife Camie, founded a clinic that has taken off.

And he couldn’t be happier. “The favorite part of my job is listening to people’s reaction that this is different than they have ever had before,” Breier said. “That makes you feel good inside that they are happy.”

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

HEALTH & BEAUTY

People’s Choice

BALLOT BUSTER

Best Auto Dealer, Best Auto Service, Best Company to Work For McCurley Integrity Dealerships works to make sure customers are happy with their purchase, not just the day they drive their new car or truck off the lot, but also happy they own the vehicle years later.

That has much to do with why McCurley was picked as the best auto dealer, the best auto service center and the best company for which to work.

Bill McCurley opened his first dealership in the Tri-Cities in 1981 and now McCurley Integrity Dealerships sells Chevrolet, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and a line of commercial Isuzu trucks. It has a reputation for standing behind its products, earning repeat and referral customers.

“We give people all the information they need so they can make the best decision for themselves and their families,” said Mason McCurley, Bill McCurley’s son and the general manager of McCurley Integrity Honda.

McCurley backs that up with some of the most technologically advanced service departments in the Tri-Cities, Mason McCurley said.Technicians are frequently sent for training. At McCurley Integrity Honda, for example, a quarter of the technicians carry the highest level of certification offered, he said. The focus is to fix cars quickly, but also correctly, and to stay in line with the market in pricing, he said.

Service centers also add value with free inspections, free car washes with service and multiple transportation services when customers are without their cars, he said. Soon it will add free tire alignment checks. Automotive News publication named the McCurley Mercedes and Honda stores as among the top 100 dealerships to work for in the nation in 2012.

The sales staff and other employees have confidence that McCurley will always do what’s best for the customer, Mason McCurley said.

Bill McCurley

Tri-City Herald file

“We think it is critically important that the company stands behind employees and employees stand behind the company,” he said.

McCurley’s popular annual party and awards ceremony at Costco doesn’t hurt either when it comes to employee satisfaction.

McCurley rents out the store, plays games, serves food and gives employees cash cards to go shopping.

Thanks to our loyal customers for voting us Number 1 Microbrewery.

Also thanks to our dedicated staff for great customer service.

Proud to be honored by Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership as “2012 Business of the Year”.

Ice Harbor Brewery and Pub 206 N Benton St., Kennewick

We will continue to strive to live up to our accolades.

Mike Hall, Bill Jaquish & Staffs

A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

At the Marina 350 Clover Island Dr., Kennewick

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

People’s Choice

#2 West Pasco Family Dental 5204 N. Road 68, Pasco 509-547-9955 westpascofamilydental.com

#3 Hansen Family Dental Center 6615 W. Argent Road, Pasco 509-547-9951 hansenfamilydental.com

Hair Salon

#1 Studio One Salon & Spa 101 N. Union, Suite 101, Kennewick 509-735-3354 spastudioone.com With dozens of salons vying for business in the Tri-Cities, Studio One Salon & Spa sets itself apart from the competition by offering a diverse menu of services.

“I work with a great team of stylists and we offer services best Kathy Nunez suited for our customers,” owner Kathy Nunez said. “We have such a diverse staff. We offer everything from men’s services to dreadlocks. We can accommodate any client.”

A modern chic decor welcomes clients to the salon, which features 18 stylists, an esthetician, a permanent makeup artist and a massage therapist. Dr. Galen Church recently joined the team and is offering Botox, Juvederm and Restylane. These services are by appointment only.

Cuts and colors are the typical fare of the day, but waxes, perms, eyelash extensions and Brazilian Blowouts are available. Studio One also offers a variety of hair and skin products.

Nunez, who has owned the salon for almost seven years, specializes in colors and hair extensions. On any given day, the Kennewick mother of four will have a client in her chair and one under the dryer.

“We keep pretty busy here,” she said.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but if you 26

Lifetime Dental Care

Tri-City Herald

want to avoid waiting, appointments are the way to go.

#2

Z Place Salon Spa 3600 South Zintel Way; Kennewick 509-735-2524 zplacesalonspa.com

#3 The Mint Salon and Skincare 4309 West 27th Place Bldg. C, Suite 105, Kennewick 509-735-4785

Health & Fitness Choice

#1 Gold’s Gym 151 N. Ely St., Kennewick; 509-736-1465 2909 Duportail St., Richland 509-420-2121 goldsgym.com

Burning fat and losing muscle is as easy as pressing the start button on a treadmill, but with a multitude of fitness classes, equipment and amenities, Gold’s Gym has something for every fitness level.

Gold’s Gym opened its pre-sale site in Kennewick on November 2009. Seven months later the large facility on the corner of Highway 395 and West Clearwater Avenue opened.

The gym includes basketball and racquetball courts, sauna and steam rooms, a swimming pool with a nearby hot tub, a group exercise studio, cardio and weight training, a separate women’s fitness area and an area for kids’ activities. In the Cardio Cinema, a relatively new feature for the gym, members can watch movies while working out.

The Gold’s Gym franchise is owned by Utah-based Cascade Fitness. Research into the Tri-Cities’ strong economy and continual growth proved that it was the perfect place to open a location, said Jon Evans, area fitness director for Gold’s Gym. “It also showed to have a very close-knit community which enjoyed a very active lifestyle,” Evans said.

Continued on page 28.

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

People’s Choice

Walgreens’ online store also makes it easier for people to find what they need.

And the company’s new loyalty program — Balance Rewards — offers savings and incentives for customers.

#2

Malley’s Compounding Pharmacy 1906 George Washington Way, Richland 509-943-9173 malleyspharmacy.com

#3 Rite Aid See website for Tri-City locations. riteaid.com

Day Spa Gold’s Gym on N. Ely St.

Gold’s Gym | Cont. from page 26.

In January 2012, Gold’s Gym decided to open a second location in Queensgate Drive in Richland. The Richland location also provides a special heated room for hot yoga.

“Our club shares a very unique mission with its counterparts in that all clubs want to improve the overall lifestyle of their communities,” Evans said.

Evans, a fitness professional, said personal trainers are all certified and undergo extensive in-house training and development every day.

“Our employees are very passionate about fitness,” he said.

#2

Tri-City Court Club 1350 N. Grant St., Kennewick 509-783-5465 tricitycourtclub.com

#3 Columbia Basin Racquet Club 1776 Terminal Dr., Richland 509-943-8416 mycbrc.com 28

Tri-City Herald

Pharmacy

#1 Walgreens See website for Tri-City locations. walgreens.com At Walgreens, pharmacists and store employees are on a mission.

With eight locations throughout the TriCities, the chain of pharmacies is out to make it easier for people to get, stay and live well, says the company.

“To do that, we’re making health and happiness more accessible to more people every day,” said company spokeswoman Emily Hartwig.

Company officials said customers now have easier access to Walgreens pharmacists to answer questions and receive expert advice about their medications.

They can also manage their prescriptions via the company’s website at www.walgreens.com.

The pharmacies are expanding their inventory by adding fresh food and an expanded cosmetics selection. Some also have drive-up windows.

#1 Nouveau Skin Care & Day Spa 8136 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick 509-736-2321 nouveauspa.com Need a getaway from your everyday life but don’t have time to leave town?

Since buying Nouveau Skin Care & Day Spa in 2007, owners Jenna and Kris Waltze have worked to make their business a destination spa for Tri-City residents.

And the concept appears to be working.

The Kennewick spa has a great core of clients, but has seen so much growth that some departments have to turn away potential bookings, said Kris Waltze. “It’s a good problem to have,” he said, and likely will lead to the hiring of more employees, particularly massage therapists.

Jenna Waltze was the first Nouveau employee when Sunny and Fred Almeida opened the business on Gage Boulevard.

After taking over the ownership, the Waltzes knew the accredited day spa had outgrown its original location and built a new facility at 8136 W. Grandridge Blvd. They moved in Nov. 21, 2011.

“Everything has probably over-exceeded my expectations for sure,” said Kris Waltze, Continued on page 30.

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

People’s Choice

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

People’s Choice Nouveau | Cont. from page 28. who serves as the spa director. Jenna is the operations director.

Nouveau offers a wide variety of services including body and skin care treatments, manicures and pedicures and custom-blended makeup. It also has a full-service hair salon.

Waltze said they have 50 “phenomenal” employees, including some who’ve been with the spa for more than 10 years. Their mission is to help clients achieve total-body wellness and beauty.

Many clients come in once or twice a month, and some will book their treatments for the entire calendar year. “People are spending the money to take care of themselves,” Kris Waltze said.

The spa is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Walk-ins are accepted, and potential customers can get tours of the facility before booking a future appointment.

#3 Eden Crest Day Spa & Hair Design

#2

Z Place

106 Columbia Point Dr., Richland 509-943-1045 edencrestdayspa.com

3600 South Zintel Way Kennewick; 509-735-2524 zplacesalonspa.com

BALLOT BUSTER Best Hospital

Kadlec Regional Medical Center has its eye on quality and value, said board Chairwoman Susan Kreid.

As a not-for-profit corporation, the Richland hospital’s decisions are made in the community’s best interest.

“It’s the people that make all the difference,” Kreid said.

They range from the nurses who focus on quality care to the housekeeping staff who play an important role in stopping the spread of infections, she said.

The executive team at Kadlec earned prestigious national recognition by HealthLeaders Media, as its Top Leadership Teams

Kadlec Regional Medical Center

30

Tri-City Herald file

in Health Care for a midsized hospital in 2011.

Physicians, employees and volunteers use the Planetree system of patient-centered health care, making family members part of the team and focusing on each patient’s goals. It includes the new “quietly healing” program to keep noise levels low to create a calmer, quieter environment to help patients rest.

In 2011 Kadlec became the first hospital in the state and one of 18 in the nation to become a “Planetree Designated PatientCentered Hospital.”

It has also used its sophisticated electronic health record system, which is typically installed in larger hospitals, to track each person’s care, Kreid said. It increases accurate information flow, speeds treatment and can help prevent safety problems, including by tracking patient medications to warn of sound-alike medications or medications that don’t mix.

Established in 1944, the regional medical center is home to a growing open heart surgery and interventional cardiology program, the region’s only neonatal intensive care unit and a world-class all-digital outpatient imaging center. Other growth at Kadlec has included a chest pain center, the first one certified in the Northwest.

It remains the only accredited chest pain center in the region with the emergency ability to treat heart attacks using balloon angioplasty.

To keep costs down, Kadlec has focused on eliminating waste, Kreid said.

It’s designed its new free-standing emergency department on Highway 395 in Kennewick to be worker and patient friendly in the minimum space required, keeping costs below projections and the project ahead of schedule, she said. It opens in June.

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

HEALTH & BEAUTY

People’s Choice

Hospital

#1 Kadlec Regional Medial Center 888 Swift Blvd., Richland 509-946-4611; kadlec.org See story on page 30.

#2

Kennewick General Hospital 900 S. Auburn St., Kennewick 509-586-6111 kennewickgeneral.com

#3 Lourdes Medical Center 520 N. Fourth Ave.; Pasco 509-547-7704 lourdeshealth.net

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LOCAL FAVORITES

People’s Choice

Favorite Park

#1 Howard Amon Park 900 Amon Park Dr., Richland 509-942-7529 richlandparksandrec.com See story on page 33.

#2

Columbia Park 5111 Columbia Park Trail, Kennewick 509-585-4293

#3 Leslie Groves Park 40 Park St., Richland 51 Saint St., Richland richlandparksandrec.com

TV News Anchor

#1 Terry Chick KEPR-TV Terry Chick’s job as a TV news anchor started with a dream to play Major League baseball.

“The reality was I couldn’t hit a lick,” he said. So instead he graduated from University of South Carolina with a degree in broadcast Terry Chick journalism.

“If I couldn’t play baseball, at least I could cover it,” he said.

His big break came in 1980 when he joined CNN when the network was in its infancy. “We didn’t really know what we were doing in that crazy new world of 24-hour news,” he said.

“We kind of made it up as we went along, but it all got on the air and it was a blast.”

Chick felt a similar feeling 20 years later when he went back to Atlanta to join FOX Sports as it was in the process of starting up its regional networks. He spent five years covering the Southeast’s biggest sporting events.

32

“Sportscasting is my first love and I’ll always miss it,” he said, “I had the pleasure to cover some of the biggest stories around, from Super Bowls and World Series to Daytona 500s and the Masters.”

But he says making the switch from sports to news has “worked out rather nicely.”

From Atlanta he made it back to Columbia, S.C., to begin his new role covering news. Not long after he saw that KEPR was looking for a news anchor. “I didn’t have a clue about Eastern Washington,” Chick said.

“I didn’t realize this was for all intents and purposes, a desert. I didn’t realize how beautiful it is out here.” And he said he has come to love the area and the people.

Throughout his 35-plus years in TV, there has never been a day he has not wanted to go to work.

“Sure, there have been times when I would rather be playing golf, or going to the beach or the mountains, but I never felt like I didn’t want to go to work,” he said, “I’ve been blessed to work at a job where it’s something new every day.”

#2

Shane Edinger KNDO/KNDU-TV

#3 Kevin Uretsky KVEW-TV

Radio Personality

#1 Faith Martin 98.3 The Key, KEYW-FM Faith Martin stumbled onto radio work when she was 16 and hasn’t stopped talking and playing music since.

Martin, 50, has been a radio disc jockey since she was a teen growing up in Utah. She worked with such nationally known radio personalities as David “Kidd” Kraddick, a syndicated DJ from Dallas, before moving to the Tri-Cities in 1990.

Now, she’s one of the most recognizable voices on Tri-City airwaves, and often lends her voice to a number of voice-overs and narration for various ad campaigns, as well as

charitable work around the Mid-Columbia.

She’s been heard on various Tri-City radio stations, including KOTY, OK 95, The Key, Eagle and KORD. She currently deejays the midday show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on KORD, 102.7 FM, and from 3 to 7 p.m. on 98.3 The Key. She’s also been the lead singer in the rock band The Shades for several years.

“I’ve been singing since I was little,” she said. “I have always loved music, from rock to gospel, as well as the people.”

Martin doesn’t allow herself to get caught up in being a radio celebrity and credits her listeners with helping to get her life on the right track.

“Listeners have pretty much raised me since I moved to the Tri-Cities,” Martin said. “I tell them everything on the air. It’s important to me that I’m always approachable to listeners, too. They’re family to me.”

“I don’t think my listeners have a clue how much they mean to me,” she said. “I can be myself on the air with them. They’ve helped me get through so many rough times in my life.

I can’t imagine not doing this for a living.”

#2

Chuck Hall 102.7 KORD-FM

#3 Michael McDonnal 610 KONA-AM

Sportscaster

#1 Kevin Uretsky KAPP/KVEW TV With Kevin Uretsky, what you see is what you get.

“I’m pretty much the same person on air as I am off air,” Uretsky says, “I try to be very conversational.”

“As much as possible I want the Kevin Uretsky on-air news to sound the same as if I were talking about a story with someone in the grocery store,” he said.

Uretsky has done it all. From hosting Good People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

LOCAL FAVORITES

People’s Choice Morning Northwest, to doing play-by-plays of the Tri-City Americans hockey games, to his current roles as evening news anchor and news director for KAPP/KVEW. Although he hasn’t been a regular sports director since 2006, people still remember his role fondly.

He was a weekend sportscaster in Binghamton, N.Y., for nine months when the position was eliminated by budget cuts. In 1992 he accepted a job offer as sportscaster for KNDU-TV, which brought him to the Tri-Cities.

“I never thought I would be here 20 years, and I can’t say enough about how kind this community has been to me over the years.”

Uretsky is passionate about sports and he loves doing play-by-plays and interacting with the fans. He has done many types of stories and talked with people in different walks of life, but there was one story that really resonated with him. It was a high school volleyball game in Pasco on Sept. 11, 2001.

The focus was not on the game itself, he said, but whether it was even proper to be playing after the tragedy.

“It really struck me that even on a day when the country was totally united in one manner, it was still OK to have differing opinions on a related topic,” Uretsky said. “It really cemented for me the notion that news is about people and how events affect them.”

“I’m a very lucky man. I get to do exactly what I love every day and contribute to our community in a very unique way, and I’m very grateful for that,” he said.

BALLOT BUSTER Best Park

There’s always something going on in Richland’s Howard Amon Park.

Whether it’s a summertime festival like Art in the Park or Ye Merrie Greenwood Faire, or just friends hitting the newly resurfaced tennis courts for a good, competitive match, the park off Amon Park Drive is a magnet for residents from throughout the Tri-Cities.

At 46 acres, the park is one of the largest in Richland. It’s also the oldest.

It features grassy expanses with picnic tables, riverfront walking and biking trails, playgrounds, an open-air stage, wading pool for tots and even a swimming beach.

During the summer, park-goers can buy tasty treats from food vendors or rent kayaks or jet skis to hit the cool waters of the Columbia River.

Richland Parks Director Joe Schiessl said the park sees 250,000 visitors every year, making it Richland’s most popular open space.

“The ease of access and river frontage are a top draw,” he said. “Howard Amon at its peak in the summer tends to be one of those places people go to be seen and meet people and be where the action is.”

While the park is a popular spot for summer events, it also is home to the Richland Community Center, which provides a year-round draw, Schiessl said.

“We label it a place for all ages — and it really is,” he said. “I often see the young and the old playing billiards together.

There’s a mix of all ages in the exercise classes. It has become the hub of activity for the city.”

Children, however, are drawn to the Sturgeon Cove playground, which features climbing rocks and fish sculptures next to colorful play structures.

“We like to see kids play in the dirt and get a little muddy,” Schiessl said.

The playground also is home to the refurbished antique slide known as Mr. Elephant. The slide was a fixture in the park from the 1960s until 2003, when it was removed because it no longer met safety requirements. Popular demand brought Mr. Elephant home in 2010 after community donations paid to have it restored.

“Go out there on any given day and kids are using it,” Schiessl said. “It’s a way for the city to bring nostalgia back to the park.”

#2

Craig West Tri-City Americans Hockey Club

#3 Michael McDonnal 610 KONA-AM

Tri-City Herald file

Ye Merrie Greenwood Faire is one of many popular festivals held at Howard Amon Park in Richland.

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LOCAL FAVORITES

People’s Choice

Weather Forecaster

#1 Tim Adams, KNDU-TV He is probably one of the few TV meteorologists you’ll catch doing a weather forecast in an Elvis costume.

But that’s what makes Tim Adams a highly regarded figure Tim Adams in local TV, even if he has been dubbed the “Weather Guesser Extraordinaire” by his employer, KNDU. “Some days are great and sadly, some days, my forecast is a bust,” said Adams, “but that is like my game of golf. I don’t get a hole-inone every day, but I get that wonderful feeling every time my forecast is right on.”

Adams grew up on a small farm and harvested wheat in Central Washington during summer breaks in college. He saw how much farmers relied on an accurate and timely forecast.

“The farmers I worked for were always watching every detail of the weather and trying to get a good weather forecast for their harvest,” said Adams. “A bad weather forecast could cost these farmers thousands of dollars.”

Adams always wanted to study meteorology, but one communications class in college turned him to the “wonderful world of broadcasting.”

He began weather reporting in 1978 at the ABC affiliate in Spokane. He has been at KNDU/KNDO for eight and a half years.

There were times he said he should have paid better attention to his own forecasts.

“I’ve been stuck in bad weather up at ski resorts in Canada with my kids and out camping on lake shores during thunderstorms,” Adams admitted.

His biggest challenge was at the start of his career during the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption. His own house was buried under several inches of volcanic ash.

“I know sometimes weather seems like the same old boring thing over and over again, but to me the weather is always dynamic and evolving,” Adams said. “That is my challenge, every day, to make it accurate and interesting.”

And with a touch of humor.

34

Bethel Church

Tri-City Herald

#2 Mike McCabe, KIMA-TV

#3 Jay Frank KEPR-TV

Church

#1 Bethel Church 600 Shockley Road, Richland, 509-628-0150 bethel-church.org Bethel Church, started in 1965, now counts about 3,300 people who regularly attend services at its south Richland, west Pasco and Prosser campuses. But to help people connect and grow as disciples, it also has hundreds of George Bache small groups that meet weekly across the Tri-City area to delve into the message they hear at each Sunday service, said George Bache, executive pastor.

The small groups help participants grow in their knowledge of what it means to be a follower of Christ and to act on that knowledge with service, he said.

That can mean helping those within the group or others, such as an elderly woman who had a door put on her shed thanks to one group, Bache said.

“The singular focus we have as a church is to make disciples” or followers of Jesus, he said.

Jesus’ last words in Matthew 28 were to “go and make disciples of all nations,” and Bethel Church strives to do that with its “13 People Group,” campaign, he said.

It focuses on strategies to reach out to 13 diverse groups. They include under-reached populations, such as young people; entire countries, such as Cambodia; and those with leadership roles, such as parents.

Strategies range from providing help to those who have escaped the child sex trade industry in Cambodia to offering or promoting Biblically-based training for Mid-Columbia parents.

#2

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints See website for Tri-City locations lds.org

#3 St. Joseph Catholic Church 520 S. Garfield St., Kennewick 509-586-3820 stjoseph-kennewick.org People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

LOCAL FAVORITES

People’s Choice

Company to Work For

#1 st cru ut r e n uppdough rld e h o t the w of

McCurley Integrity Chevrolet 1325 N. Autoplex Way, Pasco 509-547-5555 billmccurley.com See story on page 25.

Val Driver

#2

Owner

228Williams Blvd. Richland,WA • 509-943-3000

Kennewick General Hospital 900 S. Auburn St., Kennewick

Hubby’s Pizza

509-586-6111 kennewickgeneral.com

#3

Thanks For Your Confidence & Your Continued Support These Past 36 Great Years.

Lourdes Medical Clinic 5304 N. Road 68, Pasco 509-543-9300 lourdeshealth.net

WeplantocontinuetoservetheTri-Citiesformanyyearstocome!

346W.ColumbiaDr.DowntownKennewick•509-586-2340•http://www.hubbyspizza.com/

Thank you for voting for us!

and Design Center Stop by and see our new products and showroom 8438 W Gage Blvd, Kennewick A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

509-737-1023

www.lukes-carpet.com 35

SERVICES

People’s Choice

Auto Service

Flooring Retailer

#1

#1

McCurley Integrity Chevrolet

Cost Less Carpet

1325 N. Autoplex Way, Pasco 509-547-5555

1925 Fowler St., Richland 509-737-0547

billmccurley.com

2521 W. Court St., Pasco; 509-544-9686 costlesscarpet.com

See story on page 25.

#2

Meyers Auto Tech 1120 Grant Place, Kennewick 509-735-8436 meyersautotech.com

#3 Tri-Cities Battery Inc. 5900 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-783-9000 tricitiesbattery.com

If you’re looking to adorn your countertop or tile your floor with exotic materials at affordable prices, look no further than Cost Less Carpet.

The company, which started 20 years ago, imports 200 containers of materials from all over the world to supply its eight warehouse stores. You can find Italian tile, travertine from Turkey and granite from Brazil.Cost Less Carpet promises customers that if it doesn’t carry what they’re looking for in any of its stores, it will search the world for it.

Jeff Gardner, owner and general manager of Cost Less Carpet, said he once brought in a rare Lemurian blue granite slab from Italy

to fulfill a customer’s wishes.Cost Less Carpet began as a small direct seller of carpets to rental properties. It soon realized it should be selling carpets to everyone.

In 1993, it opened its first store in Pasco.

The following year, it opened a second one in Boise, Idaho. Now, it has locations throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Cost Less Carpet is known for its competitive prices. It will even try to beat any competitor’s written bid on identical merchandise. Gardner admits he’s only had to do it once in the past seven years.

“Our buying power is so good that we actually sell to other flooring stores,” he said.

“This gives our customers the best value for their hard-earned dollar.”

Gardner knows that building the home of your dreams from scratch is a big project and he said he wants to make sure that finding the right materials is easy.

“We received some great feedback the other day,” he said. “It was from a customer who was building a new home and was initially very nervous about it.”

THANK YOU! all of our loyal customers in the

Columbia Basin.

As always we will continue to provide our customers with the highest quality ooring and countertops at the lowest prices.

costlesscarpet.com 1925 Fowler St, Richland 509-737-0547

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2521 W Court St, Pasco 509-544-9686

People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

SERVICES

People’s Choice A salesperson from the Richland store helped the customer figure out everything, from how much material was needed to coordinating all the granite, tile, hardwood, carpet and even interior paint colors.”

They loved their experience and the house turned out fabulous,” he said.

#2

Luke’s Carpet & Design Center 8438 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick 509-737-1023 lukes-carpet.com

#3 Lumber Liquidators Inc. 6300 W. Deschutes Ave., Kennewick 509-396-6912

“At Lucky Flowers, floristry isn’t just our trade — it’s our life. We live flowers. We’re passionate to work with flowers every day and we’re thrilled to share them with you,” said Behen.

Like nearly every industry, floral shops have changed how they do business in recent years.

Customer can go to Lucky Flowers’ website and see what they have, then call and place their order. They get the convenience of shopping from home and the confidence of working with a reputable, local shop.

They also are seeing an uptick in do-ityourself projects. People seeing something on the popular website Pinterest and bringing the idea to the shop to try to re-create it.

Lucky Flowers is open 8:30 a.m-5 p.m.

Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

They are closed on Sunday.

#2

lumberliquidators.com

Shelby’s Floral

Florist

5211 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-735-9558

#1

shelbysfloral.com

Lucky Flowers 6827 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick 509-547-6091 myluckyflowers.com When Tiffanni Wright and Melissa Behen opened Lucky Flowers in Kennewick seven years ago, they wanted to give customers a different option for flowers.

Tiffanni Wright They specialize in and Melissa Behen custom orders, working with seasonal flowers to create arrangements with a more modern look.

Although Valentine’s Day is the flat out their busiest day of the year and Mother’s Day is hopping the whole week, Behen says that proms and homecomings are “crazy busy.”

She says a lot of students prefer Lucky Flowers because of their glitz and bling.

Rather than the traditional roses with baby’s breath, a corsage from Lucky Flowers might have feathers, tulle, rhinestones and different kinds of flowers.

A su pple men t of th e Tr i - C i t y H e ra l d

#3 Arlene’s Flowers and Gifts 1177 Lee Blvd., Richland 509-946-7676 arlenesflowers.net

Home Builder

#1 New Tradition Homes See website for Tri-City locations. newtraditionhomes.com In 25 years, New Tradition Homes has built 4,000 homes throughout the Tri-Cities and Clark County in Oregon.

Alvar and Nancy Helmes and their family started the company in 1987, with headquarters in Vancouver, Wash. They have been building in the Tri-Cities since 2003. Currently, they have homes in 10 neighborhoods.

“People can also build on their own property or we can help them find a lot in the location of their choice with our Build Anywhere Program,” said Laura Bellcoff, marketing supervisor for the company.

New Tradition Homes puts a premium on green living and equips homes with energy efficient features, including Energy Starrated appliances, high-performance windows, compact fluorescent lighting and blown-inblanket insulation systems. They also use tankless water heaters for higher energy savings.

Every home also is Energy Star certified, said Bellcoff. The company recently won Energy Star’s Builder of the Year Award.All the homes are customizable and the company has architects and designers in-house so it’s easier for customers to make changes along the way.

“The process is very easy and streamlined, the customers can be as involved as they’d like,” said Bellcoff.

She said New Tradition Homes tries to make the process of building a custom home glitch-free. They can build a house in four to five months from the time all the paperwork is done until you move in.

New Tradition Homes offers four different exterior elevation styles per plan in their New Generation Plan series. They can choose from American, Northwest, European or High Desert.“There is a style for everyone,” said Bellcoff.

The homes start at $190,000 and the firm currently has 10 move-in-ready homes available.

#2

Hayden Homes See website for Tri-City locations. hayden-homes.com

#3 Don Pratt Construction 7535 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick 509-735-9182

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SERVICES

People’s Choice

Photographer

Real Estate Agency

#3

#1

#1

Century 21 Tri-Cities

Brittney Kluse

Windermere Real Estate Tri-Cities

509-528-1739

329 N. Kellogg St., Kennewick 509-783-8811

brittneykluse.com Brittney Kluse says she has a straightforward goal when she’s photographing a client.

“I like to bring out the super fun side from them,” she said.

Known for her colorful and bold imagery, Kluse said she takes a candid lifestyle approach to her photography, working exclusively on location and using only natural light.

Kluse said she began pursuing photography in 2007 after seeing the photos from her own wedding. “She totally captured an important day in my life,” Kluse said of the photographer.

“I remember the feeling that gave me.”

Kluse officially launched Brittney Kluse Photography in 2008 and has built up her clientele ever since.

She said she takes a variety of assignments but said her specialty is portraiture, from infants to high school seniors and families.

The Kennewick-based photographer recently introduced stylized photography into her repertoire.

In addition to a more traditional set of portraits, a client can opt to do a series that’s more tied to their interests or personality, such as portraying themselves as a prom queen or showing off a love of classic cars.

“It’s taking what people want and building around it,” Kluse said. “It’s eye candy.”

#2

Firefly Blu 509-430-5970 fireflyblu.com

#3 Breshears Professional Photography 3704 South Buntin Loop, Kennewick breshearsphoto.com

windermeretricities.com Windermere Real Estate Tri-Cities has grown deep roots in the community since the company’s ownership group started in 1992.

Owner Dave Retter’s goal is to hire the best people possible who care about their customers and want to Dave Retter give back to the community.

“Through the years, if a need comes up, we try to do everything we can to try to fill it,” he said.

When the city of Kennewick’s strained budget couldn’t cover the annual July 4 fireworks over the Columbia River in 2001, Windermere stepped up with a donation.

More recently it has formed the Community Enrichment Foundation with HAPO Community Credit Union, which donated $100,000 to help build the Columbia Basin College planetarium. The foundation also has donated Tasers to Richland and Kennewick police, provided 80 computers to schools and helped pay for Crime Stoppers. It couldn’t have made those donations if people did not trust Windermere Tri-Cities with their real estate transactions, Retter said.

Windermere, based in Kennewick, has 65 residential Realtors, five residential and commercial property managers and three commercial Realtors. Many are long-term Realtors who have withstood the ups and downs of the Tri-City area real estate market because they care about their customers, Retter said.

They put the needs of their clients first, providing information and options to clients to allow them to make the best decisions for their needs, he said.

#2

Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Associated Brokers 8836 Gage Blvd. #101, Kennewick 509-783-4147

1020 North Center Parkway, Suite A Kennewick; 509-572-2456 century21tri-cities.com

Retirement Community

#1 The Manor at Canyon Lakes 2802 W. 35th Ave., Kennewick; 509-396-2028 merrillgardens.com Residents at The Manor at Canyon Lakes have 25 acres to enjoy with ponds, fountains, gazebos and walking paths.

For residents who are moving from a house to the retirement community, the open space helps keep them from feeling confined, said Charlotte King, general manager of The Manor, which is a Merrill Gardens Community.

“They can go out and sit on a bench and watch the turtles basking in the sun and ducklings waddling across the grass,” King said.

There’s always something interesting going on, she said. “Our residents say sometimes there is too much going on to choose,” she said.

On a recent day it was a cake tasting for residents and residents have been eating and voting on dishes prepared from the best recipes of chefs across Merrill Gardens in a top chef competition. Annually it holds a USO fundraiser and Fleet Week. Residents are welcome to eat meals when it’s right for them, with a restaurant-style dining room open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and a choice of hot entrees, soups, salads and desserts.

But what really sets The Manor at Canyon Lakes apart is its caring staff, King said.

The retirement community has a “warm, inviting, loving feel” from both the staff and also the residents, she said.

The Manor at Canyon Lakes has 152 living units, ranging from studios to cottages. It offers both retirement living and also assisted living.

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People’s Choice

#2 Hawthorne/Charbonneau 8264 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick 509-734-4331 524 N. Ely St., Kennewick 509-783-8313

#3 Royal Columbian Retirement Inn 5615 W. Umatilla Ave., Kennewick 509-783-1628 jeaseniorliving.com

Veterinarian

#1 Vista Veterinary Hospital 5603 W. Canal Dr., Kennewick 509-783-2131 vistaveterinary.com For more than 50 years, Vista Veterinary Hospital in Kennewick has cared for pets in the Tri-Cities.

Dr. Ivar Evans opened for business in 1956 and was later joined by Dr. Bill Keatts and Dr. Robert Privette in 1979.

“It’s been in the same location since it opened,” Privette said. “It was out in the sagebrush back then.”

Privette took over from his mentors, and added partners Dr. Kathy Batdorf and Dr. Matthew Stidham over the years. Drs. Marni Hamack and Michelle Meyer round out the staff, who specializes in dogs, cats and birds.

All five veterinarians earned their doctorate of veterinary medicine degrees from Washington State University.

“With the amount of information there is on each species, you have to stay current,” Privette said. “We learn all the basics in veterinary school, but there’s just too many (animals) to care for all of them.”

Privette said being a veterinarian is similar to being a pediatrician — the patients can’t tell you where or how much it hurts.

“There are several components to being successful,” he said. “You have to have 40

Staff of Vista Veterinary Hospital.

compassion. You have to have the knowledge and stay current, and you have to communicate with the owner. If you don’t have a good bedside manner, they won’t be coming back.”

Vista Veterinary is in the process of expanding its existing building to increase space for their patients who need to be hospitalized or boarded. The area will have an indoor dog run and will be climate controlled.

“We are increasing the quality of their care, not adding quantity,” Privette said.

#2

Animal Hospital of Pasco 3012 Road 92, Pasco 509-545-9949 pascovets.com

#3 Meadow Hills Veterinary Centers 8802 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick 509-783-0399 3711 Plaza Way, Kennewick 509-735-0397 mhvc.net

Tri-City Herald file

Credit Union

#1 Gesa Credit Union See website for Tri-City locations. gesa.com Celebrating its diamond anniversary this year, Gesa Credit Union continues to sparkle, opening new branches and introducing innovative technology.

The not-for-profit financial cooperative now boasts 113,000 members and 11 branches in four counties, with a 12th opening later this month in north Richland.

That’s a long way from when the credit union was formed in 1953 by members of General Electric Supervisor’s Association to serve the 2,600 exempt employees of G.E. But the credit union stays true to its roots — expanding its services to meet all the financial needs of its loyal membership base while also supporting the community with charitable partnerships and volunteer hours.

“Our reputation is well-built so people really know what we’re all about,” said Christina Lethlean, president and CEO. Continued on page 42.

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People’s Choice

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new owners, new menu choices

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We’re still serving duck & prime grade beef. We’ve also added new entrees for under $20 Join our Text Club by sending 3cprime to 90210 Reservations recommended, but not required.

1408 N. Louisiana St., Ste 100, Kennewick • 509-987-1745 Now Open Tues-Sat: Lunch 11-2, Dinner 5-9 Plus Sunday Brunch 11-2

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People’s Choice Gesa | Cont. from page 40.

“They know that we’re convenient and have friendly service and of course our value,” she added. “And by value I mean they know they can trust that they’re going to get good rates, low fees, and that we’re going to look out for their best interest and we’re not going to trick them.”

Gesa is a full-service, one-stop shop with personal and commercial banking, investment programs, insurance products and a variety of loans, Lethlean said.

It became a community-chartered credit union in 1996 and is the fifth largest credit union in the state.

A person can become a member-owner of Gesa with a minimum $5 deposit. To be eligible for membership, a person must live, work, worship or attend school in Washington, or be closely related to a qualifying member.

And customers retain their membership even if they change jobs or move away.

The headquarters are in south Richland on Gage Boulevard, but Gesa also has branches in Richland, West Richland, Kennewick, south Kennewick, Pasco and west Pasco. Outside of the Tri-Cities, there are two Walla Walla

locations, one in Wenatchee and a brand-new one in East Wenatchee.

The north Richland branch at Stevens and University drives will have a grand opening in June.

The two newest sites feature video banking technology.

Instead of an actual teller standing behind the counter, customers find Personal Teller Machines which connect them remotely on screen to a live teller who can help them with 99 percent of their transactions, Lethlean said.

A branch manager and member service representatives are still on site to answer questions or help people open new accounts.

Lethlean said it may take some time for members to get used to the concept, but the PTMs offer personal service while also providing convenient access.

The credit union recently recognized its 60th anniversary with a celebration on the diamond at Pasco’s Gesa Stadium, home of the Tri-City Dust Devils.

It also has sponsored the Gesa Power House Theatre, a historic performing arts center in downtown Walla Walla, and the Gesa Carousel of Dreams, which is being built at

the Southridge Sports and Events Complex in Kennewick.

“These are all exciting ways we really feel like we can give back to the community,” said Lethlean, noting that Gesa also is committed to Habitat for Humanity and Junior Achievement.

#2

Hapo Community Credit Union See website for Tri-City locations. hapo.org

#3 Numerica Credit Union W. 3115 Kennewick Ave., Kennewick 4820 N. Road 68 (inside Walmart Supercenter), Pasco 1780 Fowler, Richland numericacu.com

The heart of Gold’s Gym Tri-cities is to change for the better, the lives of our members and community…..

Gold’s Gym has been open for 3 years in Kennewick and 2 years in Richland.

We have had the privilege of impacting the lives of thousands of Tri-City Community members.

Gold’s Gym has played a role in helping the Tri-Cities to lose over 500,000 lbs since its opening in 2009. Offering annual body transformation contests and training over 200 clients per day between our clubs, we aim to change the lives of our members any way we can. We want to thank our loyal members and this amazing community for welcoming us, and choosing us for their health and fitness needs.

We hope to impact more and more lives as the years go on, in hopes to build a stronger, healthier, and happier community.

151 N Ely St, Kennewick 509-736-1465 42

2909 Duportail St Richland 509-420-2121 People’s Choice FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013

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40 YEAR S!

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